Glacier County chief., 1939-03-03
TRUMPETER SWAN
ARE INCREASING
MAY BE SAVED FROM EXITING
TON IF BIOLOGICAL SURVEY
EFFORTS ARE SUCCESSFUL
There Are Now 1863 At Red Rock Lakes
Bird Refuge As Against 14s When
Preserve Was Established Six Years
Ago.

The trumpeter swan, largest of
American waterfowl-that proud
bird of great race that once mi
grated over the country in thou
sands-may be saved from the sad
fate of the heath hen and other
American creatures that have be-
come extinct, if present efforts of
the government carried on at Red
Rock lakes and Yellowstone park are
successful.
Such was the theme of a talk made
by A. V. Hull. representative of the
United States biological survey. and in
charge at Red Rock lakes. made at the
fourth North American Wildlife con-
ference in Detroit
He said the remnant of the great
bird with the trumpet voice is being
guarded in the refuge set aside for
the birds in southwestern Montana
and in the park
The Red Rock lakes migratory bird
refuge. southwest of Butte was set
aside in 1884 primarily for the protec-
ton of the trumpeter swan. There Hull
and two assistants live the whole year.
feeding the swan in winter. watching
their movements from an observation
tower, protecting them against their
---to
injured.
Known by Name
Sometimes these guardians of the
swan are showed in for two months at
a time and they even know some of
the swan by name.
The trumpeter swan, Hull said.
reaches weight of 35 pounds is 60
inches long and has a Widespread of
8 feet. It's voice, he said sounds like
the trumpet Of a sentinel standing out
in some marsh and it can be heard for
distance of two miles" The young
birds have high voices. but as they
grow older their trumpeting deepens
to the full tones of the adults.
Once these great birds nested in
thousands in the northern part OF the
country. Their nigrationS sent them
wlnging over the central states to win
ter on the Texas coast Their numbers
dwindled through hunting and the en-
croachments OF civilization. Finally the
remnant of the race lost its urge to
where the refuge was established. To-
day they are always found within a
l00-mlle radius of the refuge head
quarters. alternating between the valley
there and part Of Yellowstone park.
los in 1886
In 1896, when Hull took charge of
the sanctuary, there were only l09 Of
O. lIle swan Iell- ana IIltS were having
trouble finding enough food in winter
/ Last August the count showed 14S
birds, SO of which were adults and 55
cygnets A second count made a month
ago showed that few of the birds had
hid out successfully during the previ-
Gus count 1t was established that there
are now 1863 trumpeter swan left in
the United States
In winter they feed IS to 20 tons
of grain to the swan. From an observa-
ton tower they command a view of
the 12-mile valley with powerful field
glasses, ever on the lookout for coyotes
or other enemies of the birds
When it comes time for the cygnets
to learn to fly. Hull said. the old birds
will fly quarter of mile down the
lake and wait for the young to follow
The more enterprising cygnets will
flap and paddle toward them &C.
casionally there is one or two who de-
cline to make the effort. In such cases
the old birds return and start beating
their offspring with their wings. They
give them a sound drubbing and it is
a case of fly or take the consequences.
Invariably the cygnets decide it is
better to try flying.