Warm water discharge from the power plant in Monticello, MN keeps the Mississippi river open for a few miles all winter enabling the swans to winter there. Find out more about Monticello's famous swans ! Trips Upcoming Trips
Trumpeter swans originally graced wetlands across a broad region of North America from Illinois northwest to Alaska. Several attempts were made over the years to reestablish a breeding population without success. Monticello's riverside Swan Park is the best known site in Minnesota for viewing trumpeter swans in winter. Fun fact: Trumpeter swans are big, really BIG! Monticello, MN; Trumpeter Swan Craft Brewery; Future brewpub and microbrewery being conceptualized by two colleagues that enjoy a good craft beer. By the 1930s, only 69 trumpeter swans … A power plant in Monticello keeps the river flowing all winter long, providing open water that the Swans, and other waterfowl, need. Many of Minnesota's swans now stack up in places like Monticello, where up to 40 percent of the state's trumpeters may gather during the coldest weather. From mid-November through March Swan Park is home to over 2,000 trumpeter swans – which is one of the largest congregations of trumpeter swans in the world. By the 1880s, trumpeter swans disappeared from Minnesota. The Trumpeter Swan is North America’s largest waterfowl and one of its rarest native birds. Trumpeter swans continue flocking to Monticello, thanks in part to the efforts of devoted widower Jim Lawrence, who doles out close to a ton of corn from plastic bins every morning. At the same time trumpeter swan habitat diminished as settlers moved across North America. More trumpeter swans at Monticello, MN At the end of January I took a trip up to Monticello, MN to see the 1000+ trumpeter swans that have been hanging out on the river there. Discover Swan Park in Monticello, Minnesota: Thousands of majestic trumpeter swans fill this park, sounding distinctly like a certain brass instrument. Throughout the 17- and 1800s, swans were hunted for their meat, skins and feathers. It is here that as many as 2,700 trumpeter swans (along with hundreds of ducks and geese) gather near a tiny city park in a residential neighborhood to enjoy the open water and breakfast each day. The swans typically arrive in Mid-November and stay until MN lakes thaw in the spring. In the mid 1980's, Carroll Henderson (Mn DNR commissioner) in conjunction with the Hennepin parks established succeeded in establishing a captive breeding program with eggs from Alaska.
Photos of trumpeter swans summering and wintering in Minnesota. Henderson said roughly 90 percent of swans winter-over in Minnesota… Swan Park in Monticello, MN Every winter, there is a small stretch of the Mississippi River in Monticello, MN that does not freeze due to a nuclear power plant upstream. Since then more and more Trumpeter Swans have wintered in the Monticello area reqularly visiting Sheila for their feeding of corn. Sat, Jan 8, 2011, 8:15 AM: *****I have moved the meeting place to Caribou since The Starbucks is located in a Target Store.The Caribou is located at 1523 E. 7t Today the Swans are commonly seen in Monticello, MN, thanks to the efforts of Sheila.
It embodies grace and beauty. Monticello, MN is the winter home to hundreds of Trumpeter Swans. Swan Park in Monticello, MN Surprisingly loud and extraordinary to take in, watching the swans in Monticello’s Swan Park is enough to take your breath away. Monticello is located on the Mississippi river north and west of Minneapolis/St. When the swans are here, they are fed at 10:30 am, so be sure not to miss that! Five died of lead poisoning, three died from collisions, two were missing after the river froze over, one died of stress, three died of unknown causes, and one swan died when he got his leg tangled in a rope that was tied to a cement block.