Seward, Alaska
Today, shortly before 3 pm, two of the six resident Trumpeter
Swan cygnets hit the power lines on the south end of the Lagoon and died.
These deaths are totally unnecessary and illegal.
After two cygnets from last year’s family of four hit the power
lines on the north side of the Lagoon in January, the City Electric Department
installed 7 deflectors, a totally inadequate number and a poor design.
The same excellent Trumpeter Swan parents nested again this year
and raised a remarkable six babies. Their magnificent presence delighted and
thrilled locals and visitors. It is rare and remarkable for wild Trumpeter
Swans to grace a town with their presence, right in the heart of Seward.
The City Electric Department had all summer to install more
deflectors along the Lagoon power lines, especially at the north and south ends
where the swans like to feed. But they did not. Instead there are 20
deflectors stored in their warehouse and two more dead swans.
As stated in the January 6, 2015 post, please contact the City
Manager and the Seward Electric Department and ask them to make the
installation of better deflectors, especially along the north and south end of the
Lagoon, top, middle, and bottom, a top priority. The entire length of the power lines along the Lagoon should be marked.
Also, it will take more than 20 deflectors to protect these
swans. I have been trying to get an answer from the city whether donations of
cash for deflectors would be helpful. I know many people would be willing to
donate a small amount to help prevent this tragedy from repeating.
City Manager Jim Hunt, 224-4047, jhunt@cityofseward.net
Electric Department Utility Manager
John Foutz 2240471, jfoutz@cityofseward.net
Electric Department Operations Supervisor
Jeff Estes 224-0472, jestes@cityofseward.net
UPDATE:
Other contacts to call:
USFWS Obe Lowry at 907-271-2825
Alaska Wildlife Trooper at 907-224-3935
and email: migratorybirds@fws.gov
UPDATE:
Other contacts to call:
USFWS Obe Lowry at 907-271-2825
Alaska Wildlife Trooper at 907-224-3935
and email: migratorybirds@fws.gov
Submitted to Seward City News by Carol Griswold
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