Subject: T-Swans at ISU Kelley Farm

I assume these are the collar numbers of the collared pair at the Kelley Farm


7K4 is a female from the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago. She was hatched in
2005 and was released 1 mile S of Granger, IA on 5/10/2006.

7K4 sightings:
5/10/2006       1 mile S of      Granger, IA
12/14/2006 1 mile S of Granger, IA
12/17/2006  lagoons 1 mile S of Granger, IA
1/2/2007        1 mile S of      Granger, IA
3/14/2007       waste treatment pond    in Palo, IA
4/30/2007       ISU Kelley Farm (Swine Nutrition & Management) in Ames, IA
5/6/2007        Mabaska site in Ames, IA
5/14/2007       ISU Kelley Farm in Ames, IA
5/21/2007       ISU Kelley Farm in Ames, IA
5/24/2007       Mabaska 1 mile W of Ames, IA
5/26/2007       Mabaska in Ames, IA
10/30/2007 Ada Hayden in Ames   , IA
11/3/2007       Ada Hayden in Ames, IA

8K4 is a male that was hatched in 2005 at Grotto of the Redemption
(West Bend, IA). He was released at Lakin Slough 2 miles E of Yale, IA
on 6/7/2006.

8K4 sightings:
6/17/2006       Lakin Slough 2 miles E of Yale, IA
10/18/2006 Bays Branch W.M.A. 3 miles NE of Panora      , IA
3/24/2007       Sugar Lake (Lewis & Clark St. Park) 2 miles SW of Rushville, MO
4/16/2007       ISU Kelley Farm (Swine Nutrition & Management) in Ames, IA
4/30/2007       ISU Kelley Farm
5/14/2007       ISU Kelley Farm                        
5/21/2007       ISU Kelley Farm
5/24/2007       Mabaska 1 mile W of Ames, IA
5/26/2007       Mabaska
10/30/2007 Ada Hayden in Ames, IA
11/3/2007       Ada Hayden
4 4 2008 1 E Story City Story IA
4 21 2008 Rest Area Pond 3 N Clear Lake Cerro Gordo IA
4 15 2008 Pella Pond 1 E Story City Story IA
5 12 2008 Pella Pond 1 E Story City Story IA
11 12 2008 Pella Pond 1 E Story City Story IA
5 4 2009 ISU Kelley Farm (Swine Nutrition & Management) 0 Ames Boone IA

David Hoffman
Wildlife Technician
Iowa Dept.of Natural Resources
Clear Lake, IA  50428
(641) 357-3517
David.Hoffman@...


From: coldfrontbrody@...
To: CLenze@...
Sent: 5/4/2009 10:03:47 A.M. Central Daylight Time
Subj: Re: swans


Chuck, The birds I followed all year finally took up residency a week ago
at the Kelly Farm on a Muscrat Hut. I believe their Collar numbers are 8K4
& 7K4. I followed these swans all over by my house this spring. Before
they took up residency at the Kelly farm I thought they were going to nest
in the middle of a Bean Field. She sat in that field for 3 days straight
in early April. They also used the wetlands west of the Kelly farm at V
ave. and the Railroad tracks just south of 210 ave. They also used the
wetland just off hwy 30 and V avennue west of ames and east of United
Community school.

The other pair I have noticed have a nest on the west pit of Mabaska. She
is right off Hiway 30 sitting on a muscrat hut as well. I don't want to
disturb her beings she is so close to the road but I have not noticed if
she has a collar or not.


-Brody
-----Original Message-----
From: Schlarbaum, Pat [DNR]
Sent: Wednesday, April 29, 2009 3:18 PM
To: Kent Berns; James Pease; Ron Andrews
Cc: Hoffman, David [DNR]
Subject: RE: Swans

Thanks Kent,  I plan to check this out this evening.

-----Original Message-----
From: Kent Berns [mailto:krberns@...]
Sent: Wednesday, April 29, 2009 2:47 PM
To: Schlarbaum, Pat [DNR]; Kent Berns; James Pease
Cc: Hoffman, David [DNR]
Subject: Re: Swans

I thought I would report back on the swans at the re-established wetland at
the ISU Kelley farm northwest of Ames.  There was a time in the summer of
2008 that I didn't see them, but then in early fall, I began seeing the two
swans again.  This spring I started seeing them, and recently I have noticed
that one appears to be nesting on a muskrat house.  I tried using binoculars
today to read the numbers on the neck collar of the one that wasn't sitting
on the nest.  Unfortunately, I still wasn't close enough to read them.  The
nest is even farther away.  You might be able to read their numbers with a
quality spotting scope.  The collars are red or pink in color.  One Swan was
standing in shallow water and I was able to see what looked like a silver
leg band when it raised up its leg.

I have attached an aerial photo of the wetland.  When we established it, we
weren't sure if it would hold water, but every year, it seems to get deeper.
I believe it has held water continuously the last two summers. The water
level has exceeded the 30 foot upland buffer and is creeping into the field.
The area was farmed prior to enrolling it into the farmable wetland program.

The Kelley farm is northwest of Ames in Boone County, Jackson Township,
Section 36.  The wetland is directly west of XL avenue and north of 220th.
It is also north directly north of the railroad tracks.  My work cell phone
is (515)290-5088.

Thanks,

Kent Berns



On 5/27/08 4:00 PM, "Schlarbaum, Pat [DNR]" <Pat.Schlarbaum@...>
wrote:

> Yes Ken,  Swans would be nesting now, so there absence from view can be a good
> thing.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Kent Berns [mailto:krberns@...]
> Sent: Tuesday, May 27, 2008 2:10 PM
> To: Schlarbaum, Pat [DNR]; James Pease; Kent Berns
> Cc: Hoffman, David [DNR]
> Subject: Re: Swans
>
> I haven't found time to go to that farm lately, I have only been by there a
> couple times since the email and I haven't seen the swans. I can't see the
> entire wetland well so it is possible that they are there and I am no seeing
> them.
>
> I was probably 100 yards from them when I observed the neck bands.  I
> couldn't read the numbers and I am not certain of the exact color, but they
> had to be red or pink or something similar.  I will report more when I see
> them.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Kent Berns
>
>
> On 5/12/08 3:23 PM, "Schlarbaum, Pat [DNR]" <Pat.Schlarbaum@...>
> wrote:
>
>> Yes Kent,  Those are free-flying swans and if you see any letters or numbers
>> on red neck bands, we can provide locations where they have been seen.  It is
>> a fascinating project that Dave Hoffman and Ron Andrews have spear-headed.
>> Please let Dave know numbers/letter.  Jim is correct about rat houses being
>> suitable nest structures, but Dave is an idea man when it comes to swan
>> nesting
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: James Pease [mailto:jlpease@...]
>> Sent: Monday, May 12, 2008 3:03 PM
>> To: Kent Berns
>> Cc: Schlarbaum, Pat [DNR]
>> Subject: Re: Swans
>>
>> Hi, Kent--
>> I was out of the country last week and am still catching up....sorry
>> to be so long in answering.
>>
>> Swans are incredibly site-tenacious, so I think it's likely the same
>> ones from last year.  However, the red neck bands don't sound right
>> to me, so I'm going to cc this to Pat Schlarbaum at IDNR Wildlife
>> Diversity program.  He'll know if they are Iowa birds or not.
>> They'll likely find their own nest site (top of a muskrat house is
>> likely) but a floating nesting platform might be used.  However, the
>> swans will likely have to compete with the geese!  It'll take a few
>> years, in any case, if they are young from last year.
>>
>> Pat?  Can you help here?
>> Jim
>>
>>> Jim,
>>>
>>> I observed three swans today at the Swine Nutrition farm wetland.  Two have
>>> red neck bands, the third does not have a neck band.  One swan landed right
>>> before I drove up, so at least one of them doesn't have clipped wings.
>>>
>>> Last year we had two swans that spent a considerable amount of time there.
>>> I assumed they were juveniles and were part of the group at Lincolnway and
>>> Hwy30.  I am wondering if swans might eventually nest at the wetland.  Do
>>> think the swan project would have interest in this?  Is there anything that
>>> someone can put in place for nesting?
>>>
>>> The wetland pretty much holds water year round now, there are a couple of
>>> muskrat houses on it.  Canada geese also seem to be moving in.  This is the
>>> area that we seeded the mix from Karl Kurtz.  I believe we did that in 2003.
>>>
>>> The Swine Nutrition farm is also called the Kelley farm, it is nowhere near
>>> the town of Kelly.  It is located northwest of Ames in Boone county.  It is
>>> just west of XL ave, and is directly north of the railroad tracks.  XL Ave
>>> is .5 miles west of R38. The wetland is about 1.5 miles northeast of the
>>> Lincolnway/Hwy 30 swan project area.
>>>
>>> Kent Berns
>>
>>
>> --
>> James L. Pease, Ph.D.
>> Associate Professor and Extension Wildlife Specialist
>> 339 Science II
>> Natural Resource Ecology and Management
>> Iowa State University
>> Ames, IA  50011-3221
>> Phone:  515/294-7429
>> Fax:  515/294-7874
>> Email:  jlpease@...
>> Webpage:  www.extension.iastate.edu/wildlife
>>
>> "I'm glad I shall never be young without wild places to be young in.
>> Of what avail are forty freedoms without a blank spot on the map?"
>> --Aldo Leopold
>