In this guest blog by freelance journalist Tammy Kilby, learn about the trumpeter swan’s incredible comeback story that led to the Great Wisconsin Birdathon naming it the 2026 “Bird of the Year.”
Trumpeter swan flock at Bakkens Pond near Spring Green. Photo by Don Greenwood
Honoring the trumpeter swan through the Great Wisconsin Birdathon
One of the greatest comeback conservation success stories in Wisconsin is gaining some new attention with the naming of the trumpeter swan as this year’s Birdathon ‘Bird of the Year’.
The trumpeter swan (Cygnus buccinator) is one of three swan species in Wisconsin, and one of the two that are native to the area. They are the largest of the three swan species. They stand about four feet tall and average more than 30 pounds each. Their white plumage gives them an almost angelic nature, especially when they stretch out in full wingspan, which can reach more than 7 feet.
Trumpeter swans generally breed for life and tend to lay 5 to 9 eggs in their nest each year. Eggs are white in color and fill the palm of an adult human hand. They weigh approximately one pound each. While out in nature, the loud “trumpeting” call will let you know that you are in the presence of this great and majestic bird.
Trumpeter swans with cygnets. Photo by Robert Haase
NRF’s support of trumpeter swan conservation
Over the last 40 years, the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin (NRF) has made efforts to restore nature in the dairy state. In 1987, their flagship project supported the Trumpeter Swan Recovery Program to help bring back trumpeter swans to Wisconsin’s skies. In honor of that project’s success, NRF has selected the trumpeter swan as the 15th annual Great Wisconsin Birdathon “Bird of the Year”.
Once the trumpeter swan was discovered by early settlers, over-hunting and the demand for the swan’s large, white, beautiful feathers almost brought the population to extinction in North America. In the mid-1980s, the Wisconsin wild trumpeter swan breeding population did not exist.
The Wisconsin DNR wrote a recovery plan in 1986 and made efforts to bring back the trumpeter swan population. Biologists from Wisconsin flew to Alaska during 1989-1997 to collect a total of 385 wild swan eggs that were hatched at the Milwaukee County Zoo and placed into two primary recovery initiatives—decoy-rearing, with cygnets (young swans) imprinted on a life-sized decoy at the zoo that later allowed University of Wisconsin interns to lead the cygnets out into a marsh setting using a floating camouflage blind.
The second major technique was called captive-rearing, where cygnets were taken to an overwintering pond, their flight feathers wing-clipped, and the birds released at age 2 years at selected wetland sites in central and northern Wisconsin.
Trumpeter swans in flight. Photo by Lindsey Broadhead
The rise of Wisconsin’s trumpeter swan population
The Wisconsin recovery goal was to establish a breeding and migratory population of at least 20 pairs by the year 2000. That year, the population had already reached 44 nesting pairs. By 2009 the species was removed from the Wisconsin DNR’s endangered and threatened species list.
The fate of trumpeter swans continues to be observed due to ongoing threats such as loss of wetland habitats, predation, possible lead poisoning, powerline collisions, and wanton shooting incidents, particularly during migration. The Wisconsin DNR has continued trumpeter swan population monitoring efforts using aerial surveys. The population now exceeds 15,000 individuals, according to the WDNR 2025 spring waterfowl survey.
Trumpeter swan cygnets (young of the year) in the water. Photo by Christine Tanzer
Join the Great Wisconsin Birdathon
The Great Wisconsin Birdathon, which began in 2012, has raised more than $1 million for bird protection in Wisconsin. Now, after 15 years of success, the Birdathon will soon be underway, beginning this year on April 15.
Part of the fun of bird watching is identifying a variety of bird species. 283 bird species were seen last year. Of those: 39 were listed as ‘Species of Special Concern’, 11 were named as ‘Threatened’ bird species, and 9 species of birds were listed as ‘Endangered’.
Grab your binoculars and a friend and register for the Birdathon!
2024 Birdathon team “Grousewell”, representing Groundswell Conservancy, birding at Patrick Marsh. Photo by Roberta Herschleb
A conservation success story
Conservation will always be something that has an everlasting impact on our lives. It has been an important part of preserving the world that we live in, and it will continue to make strides in moving us forward with each successful preservation for future generations.
Not only does naming the trumpeter swan the 2026 ‘Bird of the Year’ honor the 15 years of the Great Wisconsin Birdathon, but it also celebrates one of the most successful conservation and wildlife recovery efforts in the state of Wisconsin. The bird to watch for is this year’s species – the trumpeter swan. The large, majestic birds are now plentiful in the wild, and thriving in wetlands across the state.
Trumpeter swans taking off from a lake. Photo by Robert Haase
Guest Blogger
Tammy Kilby
Writer/News Correspondent for Morris Multimedia
Tammy Kilby enjoys writing stories that leave a positive impact on the world around her. Among her credits are two ‘Editorial in Conservation’ awards from the Wisconsin Newspaper Association, which she received in March 2026. She enjoys taking part in bat counts, attending conservation activities, and supporting programs that encourage outdoor activities at Wisconsin State Parks.
Written by Tammy Kilby, original version published in the Republican Journal and the Richland Observer.
Trumpeter Swan Webinar – Celebrating NRF’s Flagship Project
Join us for your lunch hour on Tuesday, April 21st to learn about one of Wisconsin’s greatest comeback stories: the re-introduction and restoration of Wisconsin’s Trumpeter Swan populations.
We’ll hear from wildlife biologists that worked on this Herculean effort firsthand and learn more about the largest native waterfowl species in North America.
When: Tuesday, April 21 over the lunch hour 12 to 1pm
Where: Zoom Webinar
40 years of supporting bird conservation
The Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin (NRF) has been protecting our state’s lands, waters, and wildlife since 1986. Bird conservation has been a huge part of the Foundation’s work, from our early support of the Trumpeter Swan Recovery Program to establishing the Bird Protection Fund in 2008 to support the highest priority conservation needs for Wisconsin’s birds. To date, we’ve put $1.8 million towards bird conservation projects.
2026 marks the Foundation’s 40th anniversary, and we invite you to celebrate with us all year long! Explore upcoming events, our interactive StoryMap highlighting the history of the Foundation, and more.