Monticello, MN is the winter home to hundreds of Trumpeter Swans. Monticello is located on the Mississippi river north and west of Minneapolis/St. Paul. A power plant in Monticello keeps the river flowing all winter long, providing open water that the Swans, and other waterfowl, need. Sheila, the swan lady, started feeding duck and geese back in the 1980's and in 1986 the first Trumpeter Swans showed up. Since then more and more Trumpeter Swans have wintered in the Monticello area reqularly visiting Sheila for their feeding of corn. Sheila puts out about 1,000 pounds of corn every day and it is all gobbled up by her visitors. Trumpeter Swans were once a very rare sight in the continental United States. Today the Swans are commonly seen in Monticello, MN, thanks to the efforts of Sheila.