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Today, swans are a kind of symbol for us, personifying purity of soul, fidelity and love. By their appearance, they cause admiration in people. The peculiarity of the view is a special majestic beauty. Long lifespan and monogamous. Consider one of the subspecies of these beautiful birds - the trumpeter swan.
The trumpeter swan lives in North America. This subspecies of swans is distinguished by its stealth. Individuals settle in the tundra and forest-tundra regions, which are the least accessible to humans. This species is endangered, therefore, is in the Red Book. This is due to the fact that they were hunted a lot to get valuable meat, as well as fluff. In addition, due to the construction and expansion of the industry, suitable living conditions are becoming less and less.
Description
Representatives of this subspecies are one of the largest of all waterfowl. A male who has reached maturity may have a weight of about 12 kg. Females grow up to 9 kg. The body length is about 140-170 cm. But there are individuals whose length is more than 10 cm. The wingspan of these large birds is 200-230 cm.
The female trumpeter swan differs from the male only in size. They have a very beautiful plumage of white color. Outside, the feather is dense, under it is a dense pad of down. Thanks to him, the bird can withstand even severe cold. Individuals up to the age of three have a different color of plumage. They are darker, for example, gray-brown or dark gray. This swan has a black beak. The chest is very expressive.
The bird got its name because it is able to make sounds resembling the sound of a pipe. This sound is obtained due to the fact that the larynx and trachea have a special structure.
The sounds that this bird makes can be heard at a very great distance, up to several kilometers.
Habitat
- swamps and lakes;
- estuaries and bays;
- slow flowing rivers.
Only those individuals that live in Alaska are migratory. They fly south of the peninsula and into the northern United States. Those swans that live in the north and west of Canada do not fly away for the winter.
Breeding
A trumpeter swan builds a nest right near the water. They can be seen in the thickets. Every year, the bird updates the nest and puts it in order. As a result, the nest can reach more than 3 meters. A pair of swans builds it from its fluff, as well as grass, moss and twigs.
The breeding season in different populations begins at different times. Migratory trumpeters return to their nests around mid-March. Birds that remain wintering in place can begin repairing their nest in February. Eggs appear in April-May. She laying can have a different number of eggs. They can be from 3 to 30 pieces. It depends on how well the swans eat, as well as their age. Swan eggs hatch for about 35 days. When the female incubates them, the male performs the function of protection.
When the chicks hatch, the first two days they continue to be in the nest. Already on the second day, parents take them with them to find food. Chicks feed on worms, larvae and some algae.
When the chicks first enter the water, parents can no longer visit their nest. Chicks rest on their backs, basking in the sun. The first molt of a young swan occurs at the age of about 80 to 120 days. After that, they begin to learn to fly.
Food
Basically, these swans feed on coastal plants and algae. Adult trumpeters do not dive fully into the water to get food for themselves. They immerse only the head and long neck in water. This neck allows the bird to get food, which is even at a depth of 1 meter. In addition to plant foods, worms, insects, and mollusks also enter their diet. On land, they can feed on leaves and grass.
If there are fields sown with corn or millet near the habitat of trumpeter swans, birds can eat crops. But, basically, this happens only during the period of migration or with a lack of food in their natural environment.
Security
Several centuries ago, these birds lived throughout modern Canada and the United States. But as a result of active hunting for them, the number of individuals fell sharply. They were hunted to get tasty meat, as well as valuable fluff and feathers, which were used for various purposes. They made pillows, jewelry, used for writing. Too intense hunting, as well as a decrease in the territories where these birds lived, led to sad consequences. Scientists at the beginning of the twentieth century were able to count only about 70 individuals.
Hunting these birds is prohibited. In addition, several reserves have been created. The work to preserve the subspecies was not in vain. Today, these swans number about 30 thousand. But, despite the fact that their number is growing, the ban on their destruction remains in force. Reserves not only protect birds, but also help them raise chicks. In addition, farms and nurseries are engaged in increasing numbers.
Interesting Facts
- Scientists have found that the color of the plumage of these birds depends on where they live. In warmer areas, they are darker. Absolutely snow-white trumpeters live in the northernmost latitudes.
- They nest in places inaccessible to humans. But, if they are not bothered, they may not settle so far from a person.
- Some individuals fly to Russia in the winter. More than three hundred birds fly to Lake Altai.
- These birds take care of their relatives. If one swan gets sick, they can even delay the flight.
- In captivity, representatives of the subspecies can live for about 30 years.
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