The Iowa DNR along with Hamilton County Conservation Board will release two pair of Trumpeter Swans in Hamilton County on Wednesday. The release will take place at two different locations. The first location will be at the Little Wall Lake Dredge Site Pond at 9:30 a.m. (rain or shine). Driving directions from Jewell: Travel 1 mile south on state highway 69, turn left on 350th Street and travel 1 mile east, turn right on Saratoga Avenue and travel 1 mile south. The release will take place near the south public parking lot.

The second release site will take place at Bjorkboda Marsh at 11:30 a.m. (rain or shine). Driving directions from Jewell,: Travel 1 mile south on state highway 69, turn right on state highway 175 and travel 8 miles west, turn left on state highway 17 and travel 4 miles south. Turn right (west) on 390th Street for 1 mile, turn left (south) on Inkpaduta Ave and travel 1 mile, turn right (west) on 400th Street. The release will take place in the public parking lot.

The public is invited and encouraged to attend. The event includes a 20-minute swan/wetland presentation, a unique opportunity to touch and view the swans up close, and a historic photo opportunity with the kids. As the largest North American waterfowl, these magnificent all-white birds can weigh up to 36 pounds with an 8-foot wingspan.

Trumpeter swans were once common in Iowa, but were gone from the state by the late 1800s. By the early 1930s, only 69 Trumpeter Swans remained in the lower 48 states. The trumpeter swans being released are part of the DNR's statewide trumpeter swan restoration effort, with hopes that they will help restore a wild free flying population to Iowa.

Since 1995, over 800 free flying trumpeter swans have been released into the wild statewide. The goal is to have 30 free flying nesting pairs of trumpeter swans in Iowa by 2009. Public support is key to achieving this objective.

If you have any questions about this release, please contact Dave Hoffman with the Iowa DNR at 641-425-0737. E-mail: David.Hoffman@dnr.iowa.gov or contact Brian Lammers with the Hamilton County Conservation Board at 515-832-9570.