MonticelloLive

Huge, snowy white and graceful trumpeter swans were common migrants in Arkansas 100 years ago. Today they’re extremely rare winter visitors.
An alliance of public and private groups hopes an experiment will help bring them back.

Trumpeter swans will be released at Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge along the Arkansas River, a few miles downstream from Dardanelle. The hope is these young swans will return to Holla Bend next winter and, within a few years, bring their families.

Biologists from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will be on hand when the big birds from Iowa are released. Trumpeters may weigh up to 35 pounds and have 8-foot wingspans.

The process behind the release is called “reverse migration imprinting.” The idea is to bring south young birds that never have migrated and let them use their instincts to return to Iowa.

“These young-of-the-year birds will be brought south and we’ll see if they can get back,” said Karen Rowe, AGFC nongame migratory bird program coordinator. “We need a place that’s not hunted, yet waterfowl-friendly.”

The release will be a rare opportunity for videographers and photographers to capture images of these birds as they step from cages and take to the wild. Rowe will be available for interviews, along with Kirsten Bartlow, AGFC watchable wildlife coordinator, and Ron Andrews, a wildlife biologist from the Iowa DNR.
Media representatives should meet at Holla Bend headquarters at noon. Waterproof knee boots are recommended for what could be mucky terrain.

Trumpeter Swan Release
When – Meet at 12:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 24.
Where – Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters, southern Pope County.
Contacts –Holla Bend, (479) 229-4300.
Directions – From Russellville, take Arkansas Highway 7 south (I-40 Exit 81) about 9 miles (through Russellville and Dardanelle) to Arkansas Highway 155. Turn east on 155 and travel 4 miles to the Holla Bend entrance.
From Morrilton, take Arkansas Highway 9 (I-40 Exit 108) south 6 miles to Oppelo. Turn west on Arkansas Highway 154 and travel 18 miles (over Petit Jean Mountain) to Arkansas Highway 155. Turn north on 155 to the Holla Bend entrance.