The Park is seldom used in the summer months, but becomes the home to over 2,000 Trumpeter Swans in the winter months from Mid November- March. Swans can continue to be viewed as the winter weather continues. As the warm weather approaches, the swans return to Minnesota lakes as they begin to thaw. (Therefore, swan viewing season can fluctuate year to year based on the weather.)
For 5 years Jim Lawrence has been keeping his promise to his dying wife. After her diagnosis with cancer, Sheila had asked, “Will you feed myswans ?” Sheila Lawrence started feeding the trumpeter swans from her backyard, along the Mississippi River at Monticello, 30 years ago. Today Jim feeds hundreds – sometimes thousands – of them every winter morning. “My passion is to make sure her legacy continues,” he says. Here’s a link to the Land of 10,000 Stories: http://kare11.tv/1OZDUH6
Swan Cam
Check out the “Swan Cam” at Swan Park. The swan cam gives people all over the world the opportunity to go online and view the swans straight from their computers.
Thank you to the following businesses for helping make the swan camera possible; Xcel Energy, FiberNet Monticello, Wright Hennepin Electric, Wes Olson Electric, Kaltec Technology, Monticello Parks Department, and Doug’s Computer Service.
Click here to view the Swans!
