Mute Swan  ( Cygne tuberculé )     

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General Notes

This native of Eurasia was introduced to North America in the late 1800's as an ornamental park species. In many places, escaped birds have established feral populations.  They began nesting in Ontario in 1958, and now number 100 to 200 pairs. nesting in cattail marshes or on the shores of small ponds. Most nesting in Ontario is along the shores of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, typically in or near populated places. 

Most birds are permanent residents on their breeding territories, which limits them to locations where there is year round open water, but a small proportion of more northern nesters migrate a short distance between mid-October and late November. In Ontario, they now breed as far north as Lake Simcoe and Mississippi Lake north of Perth. Nonbreeding adults may leave nesting grounds between late August and mid-November, usually in response to decreased food availability or ice cover.  Though their range is continuing to expand, in Timiskaming this is still an rare vagrant species. 

The population of Mute Swan appears to be increasing significantly, and many known wild breeding populations show significant growth between periodic surveys. It is possible that the North American population has increased by over 1500 % in the last 40 years.

Documented Observations

June 4, 1994, one observed near New Liskeard by Lloyd Taman. Accepted OBRC record on file. 

September 10-17, 1994, one observed in New Liskeard, found by Lloyd Taman and also observed by Bruce Di Labio. Accepted OBRC record on file.