- www.iowadnr.com/wildlife/files/swanindex.html
Iowa Department of Natural Resources link to more information about the Trumpeter Swan Project
Trumpeter Swan Rescue
Once nearly extinct, trumpeter swans were reintroduced to Iowa in 1995. Habitat loss and over-hunting led to the near-demise of the once common birds. Ninety-eight percent (98%) of Iowa's wetlands have been drained for the sake of the almighty dollar. Beemer Pond is located near Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa, and is referred to by DNR biologists as 'the trumpeter swan capital of Iowa.' There are approximately 80 swans at the pond, dozens of Canadian geese and countless ducks.
Comments and faves
FlowrBx, JAMES HALLROBINSON, horstgeorg, kozma.gergely, and 26 other people added this photo to their favorites.
kaleidoscope (64 months ago | reply)
When I parked my car I saw this juvenile swan sitting in the snow, outside the confines of the fence that surrounds the pond. My first thought was that it had decided to go on a short flight, so I took a few pictures and moved toward the fence to observe the birds on the pond.
I took several dozen pictures of the swans, geese and ducks, then turned to see what I thought a misbehaving teen swan, attempt to get up. It was obvious then that it was injured and I detected a small amount of blood on the ground where it had been sitting.
I kept watching to see if it was able to fly and when it was evident it could not, went to my car and called the Hamilton County Sheriff's Dept. so they could report it to the County Conservation Officer. They assured me someone would be there as soon as possible, as these swans are dearly loved and protected by everyone in the area.
I leaned out of the car and took one more shot of it trying to fly and then stayed in the car until help came. I was afraid it would further injure itself if frightened. It came within a few feet of my car, almost as if asking for my help.
Once the officer from the Hamilton County Conservation Board arrived, the swan inched toward the fence, managing to get it's head stuck! It struggled several minutes before getting free and then seemed to want the gate opened so it could return to the water. The officer was in contact via cell phone with the DNR biologist in charge of the trumpeter swan project in Iowa. He told us to try and let it go back to the water, so while I kept its attention by talking softly to it, the officer opened the gate from inside the enclosure.
Suddenly, the swan changed directions and headed back along the fence where I had originally spotted it. It was decided then to capture it and physically release in the water, or if injuries indicated, bring it in for treatment and rehab.
The amount of blood coming from the leg wound was increasing, so the officer quickly donned gloves and captured the swan. I was surprised at how gentle he was with the swan and the swan actually seemed content to be held. I opened the tailgate on the truck and got the cage opened for the swan's transport to medical attention. If all went well, the swan will leave Monday mornng for Clear Lake, Iowa and a sanctuary there until it is nursed back to health and can be re-released into the wild.
I felt an incredible closeness to this beautiful swan in the hour and a half I was allowed to interact with it. I can only pray it will be okay and live a free life to one day mate and multiply. Please join me in that prayer.
Oh, and the best part; the officer asked me if I had ever petted a swan, and when I said ,'No', he let me pet it. :) It had the most incredible, soft, feathers! My connection was complete, what a treat! He also thanked me for calling and helping him secure the swan. I told him I couldn't imagine doing anything else!
The officer gave me names and a phone number I can call in a week or so to check on the swan. I'll keep everyone posted.
Rickosound (64 months ago | reply)
Your kindness is great.
Thank you for being there to help this swan. Not many would do that.
Thanks for sharing. (nice photo's too!!)
FlowrBx (64 months ago | reply)
Wow, Connie! How heart warming it must have been to have been there and to be not only a part of the rescue but the reason the rescue happened at all!!
Beautiful photos, all of them except that I can't see the second one.
Bubba Trout (64 months ago | reply)
What beautiful birds! And big too!
You did good!
HIZ DOT (64 months ago | reply)
what great captures...perfect to go with our book, "The Trumpet of the Swan"
kaleidoscope (64 months ago | reply)
Bill, thank you for your kind thoughts. :)
I hadn't thought of it that way, Karen, the swan needed help and initially I felt very helpless to help it! I'm hopeful for a happy ending. :)
Thanks, Terry. :) They're amazing birds and while graceful on the water, they give graceful an entirely new meaning when they take to the sky!
Oh, I love E.B. White's wonderful story, ReNae! It was a new story when my son was born in 1968. :)
horstgeorg (64 months ago | reply)
Well done, great image !
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sallylondon (64 months ago | reply)
I love the story you told in words and images. Well done you and I hope that the swan does well.
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bcg~art (64 months ago | reply)
Swans in flight - such a beautiful and subtle shot.
javadoug (64 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Adorable Critters (Invite Only), and we'd love to have your photo added to the group.
Marvelous!
I really like the Trumpeter Swan.
Yet some people (not I) think they are invasive, read down the comment list on my photo of the Trumpeter:
javadoug (64 months ago | reply)
I hope the juvenile is okay!
Random Images from The Heartland (64 months ago | reply)
You are so sweet.You did the right thing : ))
egefan - Suzan Almond (64 months ago | reply)
Thank you for a wonderful story and such beautiful photos to illustrate it !
luvhumpbacks [deleted] (64 months ago | reply)
what a beautiful encounter. I'm in tears. A wonderful thing you did. I hope he's okay now. gorgeous series of shots. Thanks for sharing.
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luvhumpbacks [deleted] (64 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Animal Gallery, and we'd love to have your photo added to the group.
Thank You!
Animal Gallery
shesnuckinfuts (64 months ago | reply)
What a wonderful story! We need more caring people like you in the world!
You are invited to add this story to Animal Encounters Reader If you chose to submit this story, it will be accessible to the public
jvverde (64 months ago | reply)
Great series!!!
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tuxette (64 months ago | reply)
Wow...hope the swan is OK... thanks for being so helpful and caring!
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Just plain old glenda again. (64 months ago | reply)
Okay, I will quit crying now.. What a beautiful story
kaleidoscope (64 months ago | reply)
Thanks, all, for your comments and interest! I will be contacting the DNR biologist tomorrow, February 11, to see if I can get an update.
yeimaya (64 months ago | reply)
Gads this is a gorgeous story!! Thanks!
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Toonie52 (64 months ago | reply)
Wonderful series!
kaleidoscope (64 months ago | reply)
Thank you so much to all of you for your views, faves and interest in this event. I was, and am still, in awe of the experience!
For an update you can look here.
yeimaya (64 months ago | reply)
You are invited to add a small version of this image to Voices - Honoring Ducks (Waterfowl)
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Finiky (64 months ago | reply)
good work!!! I am jealous you got to touch it... thank you for adding to
thank you for adding to Voices - Honoring Ducks (Waterfowl)
anns008 (64 months ago | reply)
Hi! Well done on your swan help and thanks for telling us all. Also Great photos.
This photo deserves a big HEART,
please post this beautiful picture at
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NaturalLight (63 months ago | reply)
Wonderful in-flight image and thanks for the commentary as well.
makeupanid (63 months ago | reply)
I'm glad you posted the follow up because I missed this the first time!
Fabulous story and shots and I'm so glad it has a happy ending :D
cqstrd (63 months ago | reply)
what an extraordinary encounter!....can't imagine how you must have been feeling until the young one was safely taken away....
the images are all wonderful, but i am particularly envious of the flight shot :-)....
matthewlaming08 (53 months ago | reply)
Great shot you are invited to join Swans 2009 Group
www.ryanaskren.com (52 months ago | reply)
Great shots and glad to hear things turned out well!
kaleidoscope (52 months ago | reply)
Update:
The injured swan was returned to Beemer Pond this winter. Her injuries prevent her from flying, but we are hopeful she will find a mate and breed, thus adding to the population of trumpeter swans in Iowa. Not a perfect ending, but most certainly a happy one.
Thanks to all of you for your interest in this story! All things nature hang at a precarious balance at any given time and as stewards of our environment, we owe it to ourselves to be ever vigilant of what surrounds us.
bud_marschner (37 months ago | reply)
came across your series will looking for swan shots, was the swan able to mate and rear young? Hopefully all ended well even though nature tends to be a pretty tough task master.
kaleidoscope (37 months ago | reply)
Sadly, the swan did not mate last year and when checking the pond last week, I did not see her. I plan to check with the lady that cares for the pond to see if I can find out where the swan is or what happened to her.
It may be that she has been moved to a new location.
yeimaya (26 months ago | reply)
kaleidoscope (26 months ago | reply)
She was found dead early last winter, possibly due to a dog attack. The pond was freezing over and it's thought she couldn't get to the open water quickly enough due to her inability to fly.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is phasing out the program to restore trumpeter swans in the state, calling the program a success after 18 years. The ponds and the owners/keepers where they live must now rely on the private sector to see that they have adequate food during the winter. I worry that without the vigilance of the DNR there will be problems with hunters. There were 162 trumpeters counted at Beemer Pond in November 2010. That's a lot of corn to fund!
Mrscurlyhead (14 months ago | reply)
Fantastic shot :)