Just got in from Chicago — but their wings aren’t tired
April 23, 2025 at 5:00 AM EDT
Lakeland welcomed six news swans at the airport Monday, to help diversify the gene pool on Lake Morton.
Storks bring babies, volunteers bring swans.
A special delivery arrived from Chicago at Lakeland Linder International Airport Monday, the first time swans have been flown to Lakeland since the original swans whose descendants inhabit Lake Morton were brought from Britain in 1957.
Mike Araldi, the president of Quest Air Services, donated his time and services to fly six swans from Chi-Town to Swan City.
From left, Pam Page of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts, Commissioner Stephanie Madden, Mayor Bill Mutz, and Steve Platt of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts welcome the Chicago swans to their new home in Lakeland.\ (853x644, AR: 1.3245341614906831)
The new swans are direct descendants of the swans that came in 1957. They were brought to help diversify the gene pool of the current flock.
“Everything just came together,” said Lakeland Mayor Bill Mutz, who was on the tarmac to greet the birds, beaming.
“It’s more than just adding new birds, it’s adding birds that are going to strengthen the species.”
A smooth flight: The six swans had a cozy ride in one of Araldi’s private planes, making their way from a breeder in the Chicago area.
They were taken to a holding pen at Lake Morton, where swan tender Price Dickson of My Pet’s Animal Hospital was to thoroughly examine them.
The original British swans arriving in Lakeland by air, 1957. (772x671, AR: 1.150521609538003)
Pulling it all together: Members of Lakeland’s city parks and recreation staff were aware that the swans were available but couldn’t work out the logistics, or the economics, of getting them to Lakeland.
Araldi first heard of the city’s dilemma through a group of people that included Tim Wells, executive site director of Sun ‘n Fun Fly In, Steve Platt, a grounds maintenance supervisor with parks and recreation, and organizers of the Mayfaire by-the-Lake Fine Art Festival.
“We were at a neighborhood party and talking about trying to get the swans here,” said Joy Williams, one of the art festival’s organizers. “We started talking and calling all kinds of people, and one person led to another person. It was just a matter of getting into all the logistics.”
Once they connected with Araldi, a private plane broker, he offered to transport the animals.
“We had a wonderful citizen who was willing to fly them down,” Mutz said. “And he was willing to do it at his own expense.”
Shawn LaFata is a reporter for LkldNow, a nonprofit newsroom providing independent local news for Lakeland. Read at LkldNow.com.
A man films the swans at Lake Morton a year after their arrival, in 1958. (566x717, AR: 0.7894002789400278)
A special delivery arrived from Chicago at Lakeland Linder International Airport Monday, the first time swans have been flown to Lakeland since the original swans whose descendants inhabit Lake Morton were brought from Britain in 1957.
Mike Araldi, the president of Quest Air Services, donated his time and services to fly six swans from Chi-Town to Swan City.
From left, Pam Page of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts, Commissioner Stephanie Madden, Mayor Bill Mutz, and Steve Platt of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts welcome the Chicago swans to their new home in Lakeland.\ (853x644, AR: 1.3245341614906831)
The new swans are direct descendants of the swans that came in 1957. They were brought to help diversify the gene pool of the current flock.
“Everything just came together,” said Lakeland Mayor Bill Mutz, who was on the tarmac to greet the birds, beaming.
“It’s more than just adding new birds, it’s adding birds that are going to strengthen the species.”
A smooth flight: The six swans had a cozy ride in one of Araldi’s private planes, making their way from a breeder in the Chicago area.
They were taken to a holding pen at Lake Morton, where swan tender Price Dickson of My Pet’s Animal Hospital was to thoroughly examine them.
The original British swans arriving in Lakeland by air, 1957. (772x671, AR: 1.150521609538003)
Pulling it all together: Members of Lakeland’s city parks and recreation staff were aware that the swans were available but couldn’t work out the logistics, or the economics, of getting them to Lakeland.
Araldi first heard of the city’s dilemma through a group of people that included Tim Wells, executive site director of Sun ‘n Fun Fly In, Steve Platt, a grounds maintenance supervisor with parks and recreation, and organizers of the Mayfaire by-the-Lake Fine Art Festival.
“We were at a neighborhood party and talking about trying to get the swans here,” said Joy Williams, one of the art festival’s organizers. “We started talking and calling all kinds of people, and one person led to another person. It was just a matter of getting into all the logistics.”
Once they connected with Araldi, a private plane broker, he offered to transport the animals.
“We had a wonderful citizen who was willing to fly them down,” Mutz said. “And he was willing to do it at his own expense.”
Shawn LaFata is a reporter for LkldNow, a nonprofit newsroom providing independent local news for Lakeland. Read at LkldNow.com.
A man films the swans at Lake Morton a year after their arrival, in 1958. (566x717, AR: 0.7894002789400278)