First, Do you know why the swan was placed at your pond or could it have been a wild swan and just flown into the area? Is it still someone's bird? Second, are you absolutely sure that the swan is a female? Unless the bird is old enough to be sexed (more than one year of age) or it has been DNA sequenced, you may get another swan of the same gender which could mean an eventual fight and the severe injuring or even death of one or both of the swans. Depending on the individual swan, most males will go about their lives living alone if something happened to their mate. Females will usually re-mate with another swan. However, there are several other considerations that need to be made:

1. Does your state require a permit to own or import a swan onto a lake or pond? If so, then you may also need a breeder's permit if you get an opposite gendered bird and they produce young. You will need to have the cygnets (baby swans) pinioned (rendered unable to fly) between 1-3 weeks of age which means an additional veterinary care cost.

2. Just because you get an opposite or even a same gendered swan, does not mean that the swans will accept each other.

3. To introduce a new swan, you will need to build a pen (chain linked covered on top and bottom) to protect against predators. The pen should be 1/2 in the water and 1/2 on land so that the swan can bathe, swim, preen and rest both in and out of the water. The pen should also have a feeder inside the pen. The swan should stay in the pen for approximately 2 weeks to ascertain if the birds are going to accept each other. Any signs of aggression through the fencing should be noted and understood that the pairing will probably not work. If there is no sign of aggression, the new swan can be released onto the pond after 2 weeks and a standby canoe, kayak or boat should be ready in the event that aggression does take place and a rescue is required. If the swans accept each other, then you have accomplished what you desired.

4. If this is a wild swan that just landed in your pond, it may be resting as part of a stopover on the migratory path or a juvenile looking for other swans. If this is the case, there are no guarantees that the swan will stick around, so you might want to see if it stays. Can it fly? This will also be a good indicator if it is going to stay on the pond as long as it is free from predators, domestic (dogs, cats), wild (raccoons, coyotes, bobcats, alligators, etc.) or humans and has a good food source.

If you wish to procure a mate, once the existing swan has been sexed by a veterinarian with swan or waterfowl experience, then you should call Bob Knox at Knox Swans in Illinois. We hope this helps. The Regal Swan