Watch CBS News

Maryland Zoo Announces Hatching Of Trumpeter Swans

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- The Maryland Zoo announced the hatching of two trumpeter swans on Friday.

The hatchlings, called cygnets, hatched after more than 30 days of incubating in their nest.  Trumpeter swans are the largest waterfowl species native to North America and the largest swan in the world. They can weigh up to 30 pounds and are known for their bright white feathers, black beaks, very large webbed feet, and a six-foot wingspan.

"This is the sixth clutch laid by the trumpeter swan pair here at the Zoo. Scuttle and Buttercup play a very important role in the conservation of their species," said Jen Kottyan, avian collection and conservation manager. "Many of their previous chicks were reintroduced to the wild as part of the Trumpeter Swan Restoration Program in Iowa. This year the chicks will be sent to the Buttonwood Park Zoo in Massachusetts to prepare for life in the wild as part of a release program next spring in Oregon."

The cygnets will be raised by their parents, however, Zoo staff will continue to monitor them. "We'll be very hands-off to keep them as wild as possible," said Kottyan. "We want to give them the best chance at survival in the wild once they are released."

The baby swans will be transported to Buttonwood Park Zoo in the fall to continue to grow.

Since 2009, the Trumpeter Swan Society, in partnership with the Oregon Restoration Project, has worked to reestablish trumpeter swan populations. This will be the first year The Maryland Zoo has participated in the Oregon release project, after five years of sending trumpeter swans to be released in Iowa.

"It is a great conservation program that we are thrilled to be a part of," said Kirby Fowler, president and CEO of The Maryland Zoo. "Thanks to conservation partners like the Trumpeter Swan Society, the trumpeter swan population is growing each year. While our adults would not be suitable to live in the wild, it is great to be able to watch them rear their cygnets and contribute to the trumpeter swan population in the US."

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.