CCP 07-31-1995 - Laserfiche WebLink

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---.--- ---_.~ - ----- -i- ----- " ~'--!... - - --.-- - SAINT PAUL PIONEER PRESS MONDAY. JULY 24. 1995 Swan Lake it's not. but new birds are treat . Munitions plant like Ramsey County, that Marsden which operates the plant. asked Lake would be found a suitable the DNR and Hennepin Parks to is birthplace for place for nesting," Galli said. place two birds in the lake. two trumpeters Tbe trumpeter swan was com- Though those swans were too old mon in the upper Midwest before to produce offspring, they attract.' T. KEUNG HUI STAFF WRITER settlers entered the state in the ed the attention of two other pair. 1800s. The bird's low-flying alti- Galli thinks it was one of those An urban miracle has taken tude, great size and loss of flying pair that returned to the site to feathers in the summer made it an nest this year. She is hopeful their place in r,iarsden Lake at the easy target for hunters. The swans successful nesting will bring them Twin Cities Army Ammunition can weigh up to 38 pounds, making back next year, as well. Plant in Arden. Hills. them the largest waterfowl in That could depend, however, on Two rare trumpeter swans, North America. what the federal government de- hunted into extinction in Minneso- The bird disappeared from Min- cides to do with the 2.370 acres \ " . ""' "" OM"ry, w.re oorn nesota in the 1880s, said Larry housing the munitions plant. Now _ at the lake four weeks ago. The Gillette, Hennepin County Parks that the Army no longer needs the _ young birds, called cygnets, are wildlife manager, facility, Arden Hills has proposed the first of their kind born in Efforts to bring the swans back several uses for the land, including -fur Ramsey County in more than 150 started in the late 1960s as a Hen- large housing and commercial de- Ma- years, according to Joan Galll, a nepin County program; the DNR velopments. But those options on Department of Natural Resources joined the restoration efforts in could turn the birds away. nongame wildlife specialist. Galli the 1980s. Gillette estimates the Fur said they and their parents are state's growing population of the "U Marsden Lake becomes sur- imal probably the only trumpeter swans, which are now federally rounded by urban development or tests swans in the county. protected from hunting, at be- recreation like other big metro ated tween 250 and 300. lakes," Galli said, "it wouldn't be "It's. quite amazing that in such Marsden Lake became home to surprising that the swans no lon- Z cit- a metropolitan developed area swans in 1993, when the Army, . ger find it usable." tests. ,phis, ephia i and . such I sand tivists each er. I ,an for ,as the et Fed- its 356 I re pro- : people ~. to Fed- I om sell- ,jWe're lences of .' seizing I !ersity of :anization -d Macy'S I 'Onfronted :.omington otest was -I .tacy's had to provide said police .tered and I