The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will release two trumpeter swans at Coffey Marsh in Wayne County at 1 p.m., April 20, rain or shine.
The swan release will take place at the parking lot on the north side of the road west of Jones church, about 4-1/2 miles north/northeast of Promise City on J40, then west on 240th /Payton Street.
This is an opportunity to interact with the swans up close, and for kids, to take a photo with these unique a historic photo opportunity with the kids. The public is invited and encouraged to attend. As the largest North American waterfowl, these magnificent all-white birds can weigh up to 32 pounds with an 8-foot wingspan. The release includes a 20-minute swan and wetland presentation.
Trumpeter swans were once common in Iowa, but were gone from the state by the late 1880s.By the early 1930s, only 69 trumpeter swans remained in the lower 48 states. The trumpeter swans being released are part of the Iowa DNR’s statewide trumpeter swan restoration effort, with hopes that they will help restore a wild free flying population to Iowa.