Mute Swan by

Origin

edie_lerner1 — 2014-09-25 13:46:23 UTC

They are originally from Northern and Oroantral Eurasia (Eourpe and Asia). They were brought to the U.S. from Europe in the late 1800's. The first pair of feral mute swans was introduced to Michigan in 1919 in Charlevoix County. The population has continued to grow since that time. By the mid-1940s, the flock had increased to about 47 individuals.

They came here usually in zoos and estates and over time some escaped and were released then came in the wild along the east coast and made its way to Michigan.

edie_lerner1 — 2014-09-25 14:07:57 UTC

Food

edie_lerner1 — 2014-09-25 14:08:31 UTC

The swans eat primarily on aquatic plants such as pondweed, countail, waterweed, wild rice and wild celery.

All of these are submerged aquatic vegetation, this is what they feed on most.

They get there food by plunging there long necks into the water and grabbing it with there bills.

Features an Behavoirs

edie_lerner1 — 2014-09-25 15:06:58 UTC

They are very aggressive and strong, they break the ice in the winter with only there feet.

The adult mute swan is all white, while the young are born gray but develop a brown feathering that they have until their second year of life. The mute swan boasts a beautiful red-orange colored beak with a black fold of skin underneath.

They are very large birds (25-30 lbs.) measuring 56-62 inches in length.

They have a yellow, large beak with black on the tip of it.

Problems

edie_lerner1 — 2014-09-25 17:33:09 UTC

They are three main reasons the mute swan are problem:

They are a threat to humans. not only are the swans are not scared of us, but they attack on boats and on shore.

Mute swans destroy native wild life. They drive out native water flow, also with there hostile behavoir they drive out native animals from here nests.

Destroying wetland is also what they are doing. A single mute swan can eat 4-8lbs of wetland a day, they can destroy the plants completely. The plants are very important to the ecosystem because native fish an birds feed off of the plants.

FUN FACT!

edie_lerner1 — 2014-09-25 18:04:42 UTC

Overall, mute swans don't make very much noise, especially when comparing them to other native swans such as trumpeter swans. If they become aggravated, they are likely to hiss and beat their wings.

Population

edie_lerner1 — 2014-09-25 19:13:21 UTC

The mute swan's population began growing in New York from around 500 birds to about 3000. They can thrive because in Michigan we have many lakes and the mute swans need wetland areas such as the lakes that have much vegetation to reproduce.

Control

edie_lerner1 — 2014-09-25 20:14:02 UTC

You can't hunt the mute swans, although, the DNR (do not resuscitate) issue permits to take away there nests and eggs. But, his isn't there primary source of controlling the population, mainly they are trying to get ride of the adult swans. To do this they are trying to use birth control on the birds to help them stop breeding instead of trying to kill them. They think this will be an easier way of controlling the population. In fact Michigan is one of the only stats that were able to reduce their population.

There is not much you can do to help the DNR has a plan in action to help control the population. but if you see a mute swan you must get a permit and you can get ride of the nests and eggs and the adult.

edie_lerner1 — 2014-09-26 12:24:50 UTC

edie_lerner1 — 2014-09-26 12:29:49 UTC

edie_lerner1 — 2014-09-26 12:48:14 UTC