According to Horticulture Professor Ken Carroll, the Trumpeter Swans pictured above and below are permanent residents of Kirkwood’s Swan Pond. “The open water and access to food is a good place for them to hang out for a period of time. Iowa is an important migratory flyway and wintering grounds for birds and especially the largest waterfowl in North America the Trumpeter Swan,” Carroll said. “The Swans are captive injured birds from the Iowa DNR Wildlife Unit that are not capable to make it in the wild and are ambassadors of the Trumpeter Swan Restoration Program started in the early 90’s. Their healthy offsprings are released into the wild to restore the population.”
Carroll stated, “The Swans occasionally need to be rounded up for a health check and trimming of feathers. If they were to be transported proper State and Federal Permits must be used. This is an Endangered Species and has added protection by policy that protects them.”
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Categories: Feature
