 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Becoming
A
Trumpeter Swan
Restoration
Partner
Becoming
a Partner can occur in many ways:
1. Contributing to the Iowa Wildlife Federation's Trumpeter
Swan Restoration Trust Fund. Any donations will be helpful.
For $500 you can adopt a trumpeter swan and receive updates on
this swan for at least 5 years.
2. You can help by fundraising and donating the money
to the Iowa Wildlife Federation Trumpeter Swan Trust Fund.
3. Memorial donations, in memory of a loved one, are also
appropriate and recognition at a swan release can be scheduled.
4. If you have a pond that is fenced, aerated, and
you would be willing to feed an adult pair of swans; after DNR
review of the site we would discuss the the possibilities of
hosting a pair. Corporate and individual pond owners are encouraged
to consider the possibilities.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The demand for swans is much greater than
the supply. Some trumpeter swan partners have evolved over a
two year period.
For More information: write to Ron Andrews, Trumpeter
Swan Restoration Coordinator, Iowa Department of Natural Resources,
1203 N. Shore Dr., Clear Lake, Iowa, 50428 or call (641) 357-3517.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Continued
from page 1)
summer.
The other is flying around with the adult pair. The Goose
Lake pair occurred largely due to a group of cooperators developed
by wildlife management biologist Bob Sheets of the Maquoketa
Wildlife Unit and Clinton County Conservation Board Naturalist,
Mark Roberts. Clinton County Pheasants Forever have contributed
substantially to the Clinton County efforts. A third pair
of swans attempted to nest on the backwaters of the Upper Mississippi
River National Wildlife near Guttenberg. Unfortunately,
the second highest water level on the Mississippi River flooded
out the nest before it hatched. We are hopeful that the
pair will survive and return to successfully nest in 2002.
In North Central Iowa, a pair of trumpeters nested on Mallard
Marsh, an area owned by the Cerro Gordo County Conservation Board
about 5 miles north of Clear Lake. They hatched 4 young
and 3 have reached flight stage. At the Union Slough National
Wildlife Refuge, near Titonka, two pairs of Trumpeters hatched
broods of 5 and 2 respectively
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and
all made it to flight stage. Another pair nested on a private
barrow area north of Renwick, in Wright County. Three young
hatched and two made it to flight stage.
The last two nests occurred at Dunbar Slough under a strange
set of circumstances. Two females bonded and produced two
nests of five eggs each, side by side. Obviously the eggs
were infertile and failed to hatch. We are hopeful that
these two females will bond with appropriate mates this winter
and successfully nest in 2002.
Besides these 9 nest attempts in Iowa, several Iowa-released
swans have become the southernmost nestings in Minnesota and
Wisconsin. Our initial goal of having 15 free flying nesting
pair in Iowa may be reached if continued nest attempts occur
during the next two summers. We have our fingers crossed
and, with a little luck, Iowa's trumpeter swan restoration efforts
will be successful and add significantly to the continental population
of Trumpeter Swans
Ron Andrews
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Picture yourself in the doorway
of a small room. Large aquariums with mesh lids rest on
wheeled stands against three walls, neatly written identification
tags taped to the front of each. A large wire cage stands
in the far corner, and as you turn on the light, something rustles
amidst the branches inside. The sudden brightness and sound
awakens the two dozen baby raccoons in the spacious animal kennels
against the last wall. Recognizing you only as "mom,"
they scramble to the front cage doors. Little paws easily
climb the bars, furry arms reach out towards you. They
begin to scream for food and attention, their cries piercing
the morning quiet.
It's 7am. Your ten-hour shift has just begun.
You've been assigned to Mammal Nursery. And you already
feel a migraine coming on. No fear.
I spent my summer working at Willowbrook Wildlife Center as an
animal keeper fellowship recipient. Willowbrook is a rehabilitation
and education center in Glen |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ellyn,
Illinois, a western suburb of Chicago. The center provides
medical care for injured or orphaned wildlife, receiving over
4,000 native Illinois species each year. Besides
being a wildlife hospital, the center offers educational programming
on native wildlife, including tours of the indoor and outdoor
exhibits and presentations to groups on a variety of topics,
such as birds of prey, animal tracking, and wildlife management.
Over 120,000 people visit the center every year.
As one of six seasonal animal keepers, I received hands-on training
in the nutritional, housing, and behavioral aspects of rehabilitating
wildlife for release, and worked with a variety of birds and
animals, from tiny nestling chickadees to impressive great horned
owls, from fox squirrels to woodchucks. Starting in May,
right at the peak of baby-animal season, my first day started
with a brief tour of the facility and necessary paperwork, then
quickly shifted
(Continued
on page 3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
--> To page 3 |