In some cultures, the spirits of loved ones who have passed on are thought to be reborn in other living creatures. In Ames, the tragic death of a former Iowa State student has given new life to a nearly-extinct species of bird.

Five baby Trumpeter Swans, a species once thought to be extinct in the continental U.S., were released yesterday at an Iowa Department of Transportation borrow pond located at the junction of U.S. Highway 30 and Lincoln Way, west of Ames on Napier Road.

The baby swans, or cygnets, are the offspring of a special breeding pair brought to the nesting site from Wyoming in memory of Cherie Davison. Davison, an ISU student, was a member of the Trumpeter Swans Project who brought a pair of the birds to Lake LaVerne and worked diligently for the return of the native birds to Iowa. She was killed in a car/train accident on Jan. 4, 1995.

“I think it’s nice to have a living memorial to Cherie, who is my daughter,” said Tim Davison of West Liberty, “Hopefully a lot of Trumpeter Swans can spread throughout the state in a few years.”

Gaylan Crim, ISU Trumpeter Swan Project Coordinator, said this particular project was planned to celebrate the new life of five young swans and the collaborative effort between Iowa DOT and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources for the reintroduction of these birds in Iowa.

Trumpeters are the rarest swans in the world. They last nested in the wetlands of Iowa in 1883 in Hancock County and were believed eliminated from the continental U.S. near the turn of the century.

In recent years, country, state and federal agencies and private conservation organizations have attempted to reintroduce the species to their native habitat and assist with species management.

The goal of the Iowa Trumpeter Swan Recovery Plan is to establish a breeding and migratory population of at least 15 nesting pairs by the year 2003.

Pat Schlarbaum, coordinator of the Iowa DNR, said the DOT pond is suitable for the swans because it has appropriate fencing. He said a breeding pair of swans needs protection from the public and a barrier to prevent them from wandering away. While the area provides the necessary security, it also allows for high visibility so that people driving by can see the young cygnets.

This unique breeding project is just one example of the DOT’s environmental and ecological efforts. The DOT is also involved in wetland and woodland-mitigation, roadside free plantings, native grass planting, and the provision of wildlife nesting boxes located behind highway signs.

Members of Cherie Davison’s family, the Iowa DOT, Iowa DNR, ISU Trumpeter Swan Project, a 4-H camp and many supporters of Trumpeter Swans joined to celebrate the arrival of the cygnets and learn about Iowa’s effort to restore these graceful waterfowl to Iowa.