Trumpeter Swans Released in Arkansas

First posted on 02-20-2009

Fifteen trumpeter swans were released into the wild in Arkansas this week in an effort to revitalize the state’s swan population while attempting to alter migratory patterns.

Eleven of the swans were released from Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge in Yell County and four more took flight from a release point at Boxley Valley mill pond in Newton County according to Arkansas Game and Fish Commission spokesperson Karen Rowe.

She said the birds were brought in from Iowa and released in Arkansas’ warmer winter climate to change their migration pattern. The swans are expected to stick around Arkansas for a month or so before heading back to Iowa. The plan is that the birds will return to Arkansas on their own next winter, and maybe bring other swans along with them.

Ron Andrews, a biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources initiated the swan release concept but said that, although everyone was hopeful the swans would return, there are no guarantees they would migrate back next winter.“It’s an effort to see if we can establish a flight line between Iowa and Arkansas,” Andrews said.

This is actually the second year swans were released in Arkansas. Last year, eight of the eighteen birds released returned to the state the following winter. The experiment will continue next year as well.

Share | |