iN PHOTOS: More majestic trumpeter swans spending winters in Kamloops, Okanagan

The number of trumpeter swans wintering in the BC Interior has increased in recent years after decades of facing nearing extinction.

The big birds are the longest and heaviest bird native to North America and the heaviest flying bird in the world. Known for their deep, trumpet-like calls and vibrant white plumage, the birds are a popular subject for wildlife photographers.

According to Ducks Unlimited Canada, the swans were not always so abundant, they were driven to near extinction in the early 1900s.

Overhunting by European settlers reduced their population to 77 breeding adults in Canada and 50 in the United States. Thanks to habitat conservation efforts, and a ban on hunting, the swan populations have bounced back with roughly 16,000 in North America today.

The swans are typically spotted in BC from October to April after their migration from breeding grounds in northwestern Canada and Alaska.

Ducks Unlimited Canada has been active in BC conserving winter habitat for the swans.

Male swans are called cobs and females are called pens, and they mate for life.

They can be found in marshes, lakes and rivers with dense vegetation, and sometimes on agricultural land, according to Bird Advisor.

The swans eat aquatic plants and vegetation, using their long necks and bills to reach far underwater. Wintering birds are busy finding ice-free sites to forage at.

Whether spotted dabbling on the water or flying overhead in groups with rapid, shallow wingbeats, the majestic birds are special species to watch for in winter.

Dubbed “a classic conservation success,” their populations continue to increase, however, the beauties are still vulnerable to human-caused disturbances.