RJ Bergstrom, with the help of little Willow Cambern shows students from IJ Holton Intermediate School how juvenile pheasants are banded Wednesday morning. Eric Johnson/Albert Lea Tribune

Willow Camber encourages IJ Holton Intermediate School students to lightly pet a juvenile pheasant that would eventually be released into the wild later in the morning Wednesday. Eric Johnson/Albert Lea Tribune

Juvenile pheasants huddle together before being released to the wild Wednesday, west of Austin. Eric Johnson/Albert Lea Tribune

RJ Bergstrom and his daughter and IJ Holton teacher Jessica Bergstrom load a crate of juvenile pheasants onto a trailer to be released into the wild Wednesday morning. Visiting students from the school took part in the release. Eric Johnson/Albert Lea Tribune

Students release pheasants into the air Wednesday. Eric Johnson/Albert Lea Tribune

Jaslyne Pogue releases a juvenile pheasant to a field Wednesday morning west of Austin. Eric Johnson/Albert Lea Tribune