Blackfoot Swans in good winter hands
In late January I made my annual pilgrimage to the Ruby River valley in southwestern Montana to look for wintering Blackfoot swans. Many of the trumpeters banded and released in […]
A Bevy of Swans
2016 has seen the most pairs of Trumpeter Swans in the Blackfoot, the greatest number of nests, and the most cygnets hatched here since reintroduction efforts began. That trend of […]
A Good Spring for Swans
It has been a thrilling spring in the Blackfoot for swan watchers! There are more trumpeters around than ever, with lots of folks reporting swans in both known sites and […]
Trekking Swans
In early June a pair of swans (6A6 and mate) had three cygnets that had hatched on a wetland pond near Ovando (see previous blog post). When they were less than […]
First Babies
The first Blackfoot cygnets of 2015 hatched from a nest on a pond near Ovando on June 7! 6A6 and his mate (an unbanded female from the wild) are […]
Home Again
Trumpeter Swans first began making their appearances in the Blackfoot in early March, back from wintering grounds in southwestern Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming. Since then, we’ve documented the return of […]
Released!
The Blackfoot Watershed gained five Trumpeter Swans in early September, with the release of 5 cygnets cheered on by 150 schoolkids from schools throughout the watershed and beyond. In past […]
Summer Update
The Blackfoot Trumpeter Swan population continues to grow, with more swans returning to the watershed this year and cygnets hatching from two nests. We had a record number of five […]
Spring Swans
This spring has brought positive signs for the Blackfoot Trumpeter Swan Restoration Project. At least five pairs have established or returned to territories here in the valley. Other swans have […]
Fall Flights
Blackfoot Valley Trumpeter Swans are moving about the valley in preparation for their fall migration. On a small lake in the Ovando area a few days ago, twenty-one trumpeters were […]