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The Iowa Department of Natural Resources and Louisa County Conservation hope to help restore the population of a bird not seen in Iowa for over a century.  The two groups teamed up to release four trumpeter swans yesterday at the Wiese Slough Wildlife Area.  Katie Hammond with Louisa County Conservation says trumpeter swans were once common in Iowa, but disappeared from the state by the late 1880s, and by the 1930s there were just under 70 left in the United States.

She says the release is part of the Department of Natural Resources’ statewide trumpeter swan restoration effort, and it hopes it will restore a wild free flying population to Iowa.  The event featured a swan and wetland presentation and an opportunity to see the swans up close.

Hammond says some trumpeter swans can weigh up to 32 pounds with an 8-foot wingspan.