Short abstract from the book: In Denmark the mute swan was protected by law in 1926
and since then the population has increased greatly. Today it
is a common breeding bird all over Denmark. Many foreign
mute swans stay in Danish waters during winter and in the
moulting period in late summer.
The first mute swans were ringed in 1928 and in total
42,132 have been ringed. The greatest numbers have been
ringed in cold winters. In all, 10,119 of the ringed mute swans
have been recovered dead, of these 19 % were ringed as chicks,
28 % in the moulting period (July–September) and 49 %
during winter.
Most Danish mute swans stay close to their hatching/
breeding site throughout their life, only travelling short distances. The mean distance to the ringing site in winter is 45 km,
and 43 % are found less than 10 km away. During winter
8 % are found abroad (mainly Sweden, Germany and the
Netherlands). Most recoveries outside Denmark are of young
mute swans in their first winter.
During the moulting period, Denmark is visited by
many mute swans from Germany, Sweden, Poland and the
Netherlands. Birds from Germany and Poland are ringed
in greatest numbers in southeastern Denmark (Rødsand);
birds from the Netherlands are frequent in western Jutland
(Ringkøbing Fjord), and birds from Sweden are frequent on
Saltholm close to Copenhagen. During winter many birds
from Norway and western Sweden winter in Limfjorden in
northern Jutland, whereas many mute swans from the Baltic
region winter around Falster in the southeast of the country.
Most mute swans ringed in Denmark during winter
stay close to the ringing site throughout the winter (the
mean distance within a single winter is 7 km). Collisions
with overhead wires represent 9 % of the dead recoveries.
Collisions happen most frequently in March–May and
October. Among birds ringed as chicks and recovered dead,
43 % were reported in their first year of life. The oldest
mute swan in Denmark was found dead aged 28 years, 7
months.
Read more about the species in the chapter from The Danish Bird Migration Atlashere
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