Trumpeter swan reintroduction efforts have concentrated on creating breeding populations, while little work has been conducted to encourage winter migration. As a result, most populations cannot be considered self-sustaining. Migratory populations of trumpeter swans in the Midwest have not been well-studied. In general, little is known about the importance of diet and nutrition in swan survival. To determine how migratory behavior and nutrient availability impact trumpeter swan mortality, I will compare survival estimates between migratory and non-migratory swans and among swans using different wintering areas. I will calculate annual and seasonal survival rates on the wintering and breeding grounds based on mark-resight data gathered since 1994 . I will use activity-time budgets and habitat use surveys to determine the diets of at least two different wintering populations of trumpeters. This information should allow me to determine what type of wintering habitat supports the highest survival rates for migratory swans and whether migratory swans survive better than non-migratory swans.
