Current Status Of Trumpeter Swan Reintroduction At The Flathead Indian Reservation

The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, in partnership with other agencies and non-governmental organizations, commenced a project to reintroduce trumpeter swans (Cygnus buccinator) at the Flathead Indian Reservation in 1996. Between 2002 and 2010 191 swans were released on the Reservation. Released swans generally wintered locally in the lower Flathead River drainage and its tributaries, likely due to mild winter weather conditions, abundant open water and ample food resources. Wintering swans from the project were also observed in southwestern Montana, northeastern Colorado and eastern Idaho, but few of these known migrants survived. Collisions with overhead power lines accounted for the majority of documented mortalities. Cooperative efforts with the local electrical utility are underway to mark lines and the marking seems to have reduced the incidence of collision mortalities. The first wild-nesting trumpeter swans from the reintroduction project were observed in 2004 with continued successful nesting each subsequent year and a total production of 89 fledged cygnets. Future plans for the reintroduction project include additional releases of captivereared swans, continued monitoring of released and wild hatched swans, wetland habitat restoration projects, and marking of additional power lines

Montana’s Colonial Nesting Waterbird Survey

Wetlands are a dispersed but declining resource in Montana. They are considered a Tier 1 community (greatest conservation need) in Montana’s Comprehensive Fish and Wildlife Conservation Strategy and are of critical importance to breeding waterbirds. Of the 17 colonially-nesting waterbirds in the state, 12 are Montana Species of Concern. Despite the conservation ranking of waterbirds and their habitats, information on the distribution and abundance of these wetland obligates is limited. The Montana Bird Conservation Partnership is participating in the USDI Fish and Wildlife Service west-wide colonial nesting waterbird inventory to contribute to regional population estimates and meet state information needs. We are focusing on Species of Concern. We counted nests at 123 wetland sites across the state in 2009 and at 133 sites in 2010. Colony size ranged from 1-4833 pairs. Most colonies were relatively small (1-195 pairs), except Franklin’s Gulls and American White Pelicans. High water levels likely affected reproductive success in spring 2010. Additional survey work will be conducted in 2011. In addition to calculating estimates of population size, we plan to use these data, in conjunction with other work, to link waterbird populations to wetland condition for use in future conservation decisions and planning. Our work has particular relevance to predicted changes in timing and amount of precipitation associated with climate change, which will likely change wetland condition and distribution throughout the state

Conserving Montana’s Birds And Their Habitats Through Partnerships

The Montana Bird Conservation Partnership is a consortium of representatives from state, tribal, and federal agencies, non-governmental organizations, and individuals who are dedicated to conserving birds and their habitats in Montana. Our goals are to work collaboratively to keep common birds common and to conserve, protect and restore sensitive species and habitats. We work to recognize the social and economic value of birds to the people of Montana. We also use the best available science to identify conservation opportunities. Over 300 species of birds regularly breed, winter, or migrate through Montana. Of these, 82 are considered to have sensitive or at-risk populations. Montana’s birds are threatened by habitat loss stemming from changing land use practices and energy and subdivision development. Global climate change may exacerbate these threats. We will present current Montana Bird Conservation Partnership projects, our action plan, focal species initiatives, and examples of successful conservation-in-action projects. Find out how you and/ or your organization can get involved at the local or state level. Learn more about the most exciting and forward-thinking bird partnership in the region