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<< Forwarded by Larry Lynch birder6@xxxxxxxx>>
From: "Tom Bidrowski" <TBidrowski@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Mon, 29 Jul 2002 15:21:41 -0400
Subject: Re: Fw: Mute Swan Survey
I would like to thank you for your interest in Virginia Dept. of Game &
Inland Fisheries mute swan survey. The purpose of the survey is to
monitor mute swan population and distribution in Virginia and has been
conducted triennially since 1986 throughout the Atlantic Flyway. States
in the Atlantic Flyway (Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, New
York, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware,
Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolinian,
Georgia, and Florida) have similar surveys implemented. The Atlantic
Flyway Council is comprised of U.S. state and federal agencies and
Canadian provincial governments that provides guidance in regulations,
management, research and monitoring of waterfowl and migratory game birds
in the eastern Northern America.
Mute swans are not native to North America being introduced from Europe
into the Eastern United States. Mute swans are generally non-migratory
and feral breeding populations have spread throughout the Northeast and
into Virginia. They have had detrimental impacts on the environment and
native wildlife species. They consume large quantities of aquatic
vegetation, a critical and much reduced resource in the Chesapeake Bay.
They also compete with native wildlife for nesting territories, resting
and roosting areas, and other resources.
Prior to December 2001, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service
(USFWS) considered the mute swan an exotic species. A 2001 U.S. Court of
Appeals decision ruled that mute swans should be afforded protection
under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The USFWS has notified state
wildlife agencies that they will not challenge this ruling and that mute
swans will now be afforded the same protection as native migratory bird
species. States will now be required to obtain a federal permit to
control mute swan populations. Mute swans have therefore been removed
from the list of nuisance species in Virginia.
VA Dept of Game and Inland Fisheries is interested in knowing the
locations of all mute swans and other feral swans (Australian black,
black-necked, etc) in VIRGINIA. If you site any mute swans in the next
month or if you know of any mute swan locations, please fill out the
attached data sheet and return to me by September 1.
Once again, we appreciate your interest and cooperation in this survey.
If have any questions about the survey, mute swans or waterfowl please
dont hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Tom Bidrowski
Waterfowl Project Leader
VA Dept of Game & Inland Fisheries
5806 Mooretown Rd
Williamsburg, VA 23188
757 253 4172
bidrowskit@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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