OPAS Program: “A Swan Study: Insights, Storylines, and Partnerships”

Description

Presenter: Kyle Spragens, WDFW Waterfowl Section Manager Wednesday, March 19, 2025 at 7 p.m. Rainshadow Hall, Dungeness River Nature Center Free to attend Washington plays host to an impressive number of swans every year. While the sight of these massive white waterfowl on the landscape captivates the interest of waterfowl enthusiasts, the ecological role that Washington plays for both Trumpeter and Tundra swans is often misunderstood. In November 2023, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) Waterfowl Section and a CalPoly Humboldt graduate student initiated an exciting marking project to help shed light on how individual swans use the landscapes that they are dependent upon, especially while here in Washington State. The findings inform researchers as to how to influence Pacific Coast population-level conservation. This presentation will provide important background and context on the swan populations that are seen every year in Washington and will share some preliminary insights on these migratory birds after a full year of data collection from this research project. Kyle Spragens, Waterfowl Section Manager for the WDFW, coordinates monitoring and research activities statewide. He serves on the Pacific Flyway Study Committee charged with status assessments and harvest regulation responsibilities throughout the Pacific Flyway states. Currently he is the U.S. Chair for the Pacific Birds Habitat Joint Venture Management Board and looks for an opportunity to talk about waterfowl whenever folks are interested.