Trumpeter Swans at Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge

1A2 is a male Trumpeter Swan banded as a cygnet in 2004 in Rocky Ridge, Ohio. He and his mate call Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge home and are probably the most photogenic swans in the refuge. But... why is he banded?

By 1932, an estimated 70 (yes, 70!) trumpeter swans existed in the wild in the world. They had been hunted to near extinction for feathers, meat, eggs, and skin which was used to make powder puffs. This led to the establishment of Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge in 1935. Red Rock Lakes is located in Montana's Centennial Valley and is part of the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem. Nearly half of the known trumpeter swans in 1932 were found in this area. The area's system of hot springs provides year-round open waters where trumpeters, as well as other wildlife, find food and cover even in the coldest weather. Over the years, the Red Rock Lakes refuge flock served as an important source of breeding birds for reintroduction efforts in other parts of the country, primarily on other national wildlife refuges in the Midwest including the Ottawa NWR Complex.

Starting in the late 1960s, Trumpeters have been surveyed every five years in the continental United States. The most recent count (2015) tallied 63,016 birds in the country, documenting a remarkable comeback. In a 2023 survey by the Ohio DNR, researchers documented 545 trumpeter swans in D2, which covers NW Ohio.

1A2 and former mate 74M (who died at age 19) have well contributed to NW Ohio’s increase in breeding pairs and cygnets. In 2022, 1A2 accepted a new, unbanded mate to continue his legacy.

​Trumpeter swans may live up to 25 years. We hope that with our habitat conservation efforts at Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge that 1A2 will have a long, healthy life in our marshes as part of an incredible conservation success story.


More about Bird Banding from the United States Geological Survey (USGS)

Bird banding data are useful in both scientific research and management and conservation projects. Individual identification of birds makes possible studies of dispersal and migration, behavior and social structure, life-span and survival rate, reproductive success and population growth.

When you see a banded bird, report it! Researchers will send you a certificate with more information about the bird. It's a great way to learn about the world around you.
Photo: Trumpeter swan 1A2 by Rick Barricklow