Grotto celebrates Fall Back to West Bend with educational program on the trumpeter swan

By JULIE KEANE, Globe staff reporter
September 2, 2004

WEST BEND - A pair of trumpeter swans have found a home at the Grotto of Redemption for the last nine years and will be featured in an educational presentation hosted by the Grotto and the DNR on Sept. 11.

Audrey Niemann, executive director of the Grotto, said the Grotto join forces with the DNR in 1995 in hopes of restoring the swan population in Iowa. She said the presentation is just one more way the Grotto can help educate people about the habits and history of the bird in order to reach their restoration goal. The program will also take part in the Fall Back to West Bend weekend that is planned for the town.

"On Sept. 11 the DNR along with the Grotto is sponsoring a free educational event on the trumpeter swan," Niemann said. "The reason we chose to do this on this particular date is because it is our way of participating in the Fall Back to West Bend weekend. We wanted to do something that uniquely reflected the Grotto. We thought this was a great way to let people aware we have the trumpeter swans on the Grotto and work more in partnership with the DNR to education people about the trumpeter swans of Iowa."

The presentation will take place twice on Saturday. The first program will start at 10:30 a.m. and the second will begin at 1 p.m. The presentation will last about 30 minutes and will contain information about the habits of the trumpeter swan, their habitat and why the DNR introduced the swan restoration program.

"People will leave with a sense of the habits of the bird as well as the history of the bird," Niemann said. "The people will have some idea of what it was like in Iowa in the 1800's when there were wild nesting trumpeter swans and what happened over a period of time as they became more scarce."

The presentation will also provide an opportunity for people to see the trumpeter swans. People who attend the presentation will have a chance to touch and view the swans up close, along with five cygnets, who will be leaving in the late fall to be placed in different locations.

"Anyone who has seen a trumpeter swan can not fail to be inspired by the beauty of this birds," Niemann said. "They are magnificent to see. The trumpeting sound that comes across the grounds in so memorable. That is something that was native to our area. I think it is a wonderful educational opportunity."

Along with the viewing the trumpeter swan presentation, those who are at the Grotto have the opportunity to take a tour, walk through the gift shop and museum or eat in the restaurant. Many activities will be going on in West Bend also that weekend in celebration of Fall Back to West Bend.

"This is a terrific opportunity to have a family outing at a very affordable price," Niemann said. "We will offer tours that day every hour and a half. The museum, gift shop and restaurant will be open that day as well. In addition to that they call participate in the Salute to America Quilt Feast 2004. We have other activities on Main Street - horseshoes, mini golf, and croquet. We have a shop hop with our merchants around town. We are offering a variety of things to do."

Niemann said she hopes people use this opportunity to visit West Bend and the Grotto and be a part of the many activities West Bend will be offering that day.

"I think this is a great weekend in general to come back," Niemann said. "If you are not part of a small community you can come back to enjoy the flavor of a small rural community where you can do a wide variety of things. It is unique for us to offer the educational session on the trumpeter swans."

For more information about the trumpeter swan presentation contact Niemann at the Grotto at (800)868-3641.