Acta Univ Latv (2008) 745: 53–61

Territorial and temporal distribution of Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus marked with neck collars in Latvia in 2003 – 2005

Abstract

In total 149 Whooper Swans Cygnus cygnus were marked with neck collars in Latvia from 2003 to 2005: 113 cygnets, 29 moulting non-breeders and seven breeding birds. Blue plastic neck collars with white inscription were used for marking. This article includes all data the author has received from 14 August 2003 till 31 December 2006. A total of 1329 resightings were received. Birds arrive in wintering places during November and December. The majority of these sites are located in the eastern part of Germany along the banks of River Elbe and Oder and in Poland near Oder River. Some birds were observed in Denmark, in The Netherlands and in the western part of Germany. The airline distance from ringing to wintering sites was 623 – 1189 km. In June birds ringed in previous year as cygnets were observed in Latvia and Estonia, during autumn migration – in Finland and Estonia. All these sightings show that Latvian young birds use locations far to the North from Latvia for moulting.