(Iowa DNR Conservation News; Des Moines, IA) – Iowa’s trumpeter swans attempted a modern-day record 158 nests in 2025, which is an increase of 17 percent over 2022. The nesting data is from the most recent statewide observation survey completed in December. In a news release, Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) state waterfowl biologist Orrin Jones, says  “It’s a neat story about the restoration. We spent a lot of time and effort to get the population established and its really taking off right now.”

Recovery has taken time, but is a true modern-day conservation success story, he said. The restoration effort was supported by the Iowa DNR’s Fish and Wildlife Trust Fund; a constitutionally protected fund where hunting, fishing and trapping license fees are deposited and used, in part, to protect, restore, or manage fish and wildlife. The largest waterfowl in North America, trumpeter swans have come a long way since the 1930s, when conservation efforts began in order to protect small populations in Montana and Alaska.

A trumpeter swan with two cygnats on a Chickasaw County wetland. Photo courtesy of the Iowa DNR.

Native to Iowa, trumpeter swans were once as widely distributed as Canada geese, but had been extirpated by the early 1880s. Early and aggressive reintroduction efforts in the Midwest by Minnesota and Wisconsin, followed a few years later by Michigan, and then Iowa, sought to return these iconic waterfowl to their traditional place on the prairie wetlands.

Iowa began with a restoration plan in 1993, followed by the first release of four swans in 1994. The plan included monitoring the swans to evaluate reintroduction success. The DNR released a total of 1,218 swans, ending in 2022. Iowa’s first trumpeter swan nest in the modern era was in 1998, in Dubuque County, followed two years later by one in Winnebago County. Nesting attempts increased slowly following the growing number of released swans. After averaging in the mid-50s for nearly a decade, nest attempts jumped to more than 120 in 2020, followed by nearly 140 in 2022.

“Reintroduction has been successful and we continue to monitor the population as time goes on,” said Taylor Ballard, wildlife research technician with the Iowa DNR’s Clear Lake office. “We ask our staff to record any observations of swans – active nests, swans with a brood – let us know if they see a successful nest and the number of cygnets that nest has, which gives us our number of cygnets of per successful nest.”

Ballard said the active nests average 4.4 cygnets, or young swans, which is helping grow the local population. Of the 158 active nests, Ballard said 98 were known to be successful in hatching. Population surveys begin in mid- to late-April, with peak surveys from May to September. Iowa DNR staff, along with staff from local county conservation boards, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service and private citizens check areas with preferred habitat or where nests have previously occurred.

The data is passed along to the Mississippi Flyway Council, who coordinates management with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “The birds are doing best on the large semi-permanent wetlands in the prairie pothole region and their trend is continuing to expand in abundance, like we thought it would,” said Jones. “It takes time for swans to reach maturity but once they begin nesting they are productive and we have vacant habitat available for them.”

The Iowa DNR has captured and collared cygnets as part of a survival study. Swans live as a family unit with parents providing protection and teaching the young skills needed to survive. More than 70 percent of cygnets that fledge in September will survive to March. “Trumpeter swans are emblematic of healthy wetland systems, clean water – and are a way to tie a species to the habitat,” Jones said. “It’s a neat story about the swan restoration – and we’re seeing a similar response with the sandhill cranes – they’re expanding, too – and likely will increase until population reaches the carrying capacity of the habitat.”

Iowa swans, along with swans from Minnesota and Wisconsin, are part of the interior population of trumpeter swans. Some of these birds follow traditional winter migration to Missouri and Arkansas, while others will remain in Iowa, to be joined by swans from up north. The 2025 midwinter waterfowl survey recorded more than 4,700 swans in Iowa.

While the population has been increasing, threats do remain. Collisions with powerlines is a major problem, as is ingesting lead. In the last few years, avian influenza has claimed some swans, as well.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Economic Development Authority Director Debi Durham, says improving Iowa’s tax and regulatory climate has been the “North Star” during her tenure as the state’s top economic development official.

Durham, who served as IEDA’s Director since 2011, says she’s focused on selling Iowa as home base to businesses and well as young professionals in their 20s, 30s and 40s.

Durham says in the past year 33-hundred people interested in moving have responded and those leads are being passed on to officials in Iowa cities and communities that match their interests. Durham says it’s part of talent recruitment efforts to address workforce concerns. In early 2020, more than 70 percent of Iowans above the age of 15 who were able to work were working. But nearly six years after the pandemic started, Durham says Iowa’s labor participation rate hasn’t fully recovered.

Durham’s agency will launch new talent recruitment efforts next year focused on sectors like health care that need more workers.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa dairy farmers have been able to pull out a small profit on their milk thanks to issues in other sectors of agriculture. Iowa State University Extension dairy expert Fred Hall says the drop in grain prices has been a positive for the industry.

A drop in cattle numbers has sent beef prices up, which Hall says has also helped bolster dairy producers. Dairy cows are usually bred to calve once a year, and Hall says selling some calves has brought dairies more income.

Halls says dairies can target the beef market for some of the yearly calves.

Hall says the numbers make it a good proposition for the dairy producers.

Hall says it is an unusual situation where the dairies are able to take advantage of some issues with other segments of agriculture to help make a small profit.

(Radio Iowa) – The University of Northern Iowa is planning to renovate Redeker Center dining center, the largest student dining center on campus. U-N-I”s Michael Hager says part of the renovation includes updating the individual venues where different types of food are served.

He says it will ensure they get food that won’t cause them problems.

Hager says one organization has recognized U-N-I as the best in the state for its food service.

Hager says the Redeker Center has not been upgraded in the last 20 years. The Regents gave approval for the school to develop design and construction plans for what is expected to be a three-point-four million dollar project.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa chapter of the American Red Cross will be starting 2026 much as it always does, with a critical need for blood donors as blood supplies are dangerously low. Agency spokesman Josh Murray says he’s hoping the blood shortage in the new year makes people stop and think about what they can do to help year-round.

This year, the Red Cross held more than 12-hundred blood drives across Iowa and collected more than 30-thousand units of blood. Murray suggests if you’re pondering making a New Year’s resolution, consider resolving to give blood.

You can safely donate blood every 56 days and the process typically takes less than an hour, while the actual collection just lasts about ten minutes.

The blood is used for people facing life-threatening conditions like cancer, sickle cell disease, childbirth complications and traumatic injuries. He says patients rely on a consistent blood supply to survive and heal, and it’s the blood already on the shelves that helps save lives in an emergency.

(Red Oak, IA) – The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors are set to hold their 2026 Organizational and Regular meetings** back-to-back this Friday morning (Jan. 2nd), in their Red Oak courthouse meeting room. First-up, at 9-a.m., is the Organizational Meeting, which includes (among other things) the following:

• Appoint Chairman and Vice-Chairman of Board for calendar year 2026
• Set Board’s meeting schedule for 2026
• Set Montgomery County Employee’s Holiday Schedule for 2026
• Set the Mileage rate for 2026 (IRS guideline)
• and, appointments of Supervisors to serve on 16 committees.

During the Regular weekly meeting that begins at approximately 9:15-a.m., Friday (or, following adjournment of the prior session), the Montgomery County Supervisors will act on New Business matters, including:

1. 1. 2026-01 Payment of Fixed Charges
   2. Approve Resolution 2026-02 Naming Depositories
   3. Approve Resolution 2026-03 Construction Evaluation
   4. Discuss FY24 Audit
   5. Discuss 175 years anniversary
   6. Set dates for budget work sessions
   7. Consideration for allowance of homestead exemption for grandfathered parcel for 2024 and 2025 parcel 641227136009000.

The next regular meeting is scheduled for Tuesday January 13, 2026, at 9:00 a.m.

***Please note, this is a public meeting; however, it may be conducted via ZOOM. Join Zoom Meeting at 

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85039693411

Meeting ID: 850 3969 3411

Or, dial by your location +1 312 626 6799 If you are calling in, Press *9 to raise your hand if you wish to speak.31

(Creston, IA) – A Union County man was arrested Tuesday afternoon, on a Class-D Felony charge of  Domestic Abuse Assault by impeding the flow of air/and-or blood, causing bodily injury, as well as for Possession of a Controlled Substance/2nd Offense (an Aggravated Misdemeanor). The Creston Police Department reports 29-year-old Ryan Jason Parmenter, of Creston, was taken into custody at around 12:20-p.m. and transported to the Union County Jail. He was being held without bond until seen by a Judge.

(Radio Iowa) – This is traditionally the deadliest week of the year for heart attacks in Iowa, and even though it’s been getting warmer and the weekend snow has pretty much melted away in this area, it’s important to keep in mind that when heavy snow falls, one potential cause for heart attacks is overexertion, which for many of us, can stem from shoveling snow.  Rob Gavora, chief administrative officer at MercyOne-Iowa Heart Center in Des Moines, says shoveling is a chore many of us face routinely and it can also be lethal if you push too hard.

“Yes, it definitely is a risk,” Gavora says. “Actually, even just being out in the cold in general can sometimes restrict blood flow. Unusual activities like that, indulging in certain types of foods or not exercising, anything that is different for folks, or getting them off their routines just increases your risk for having some type of event.” Know your bodies’ limits and don’t overextend. Gavora says some Iowans may need to consider hiring out their snow removal, or abandoning the shovel for something more powerful.  “If there are different ways to snow blow, have somebody else help with some of that work so it’s broken up is definitely recommended,” Gavora says. “It’s also recommended to have somebody who, if you are again someone who does need to shovel, that you’re not outside for more than 10, 15, 20 minutes. And take breaks. Don’t have just one long episode or event that might be straying from the norm in terms of how you normally work out, especially being out in the cold for that long period of time.”

A study from the American Heart Association finds more Iowans die from heart attacks during the last week of December than any other week of the year, while nationwide, the most cardiac deaths occur on December 25th, followed by December 26th and January 1st.