We would be very skeptical of anyone stating that a swan won't fly because it has not learned to fly. If it has wings, it can fly. The problem would be that if they were raised at the park's pond for their entire lives, they may try to return to their old home and they can accomplish this by either flying or walking from your habitat. Regardless, you will have to build a fenced pen 1/2 in the water and 1/2 on land to allow for bathing and preening. The pen also requires a feeder inside to teach the swans how to find their food. The pen must also be covered on top so that predators or people cannot access the swans.

The swans will need to be kept in the pen for approximately 2 weeks until they familiarize themselves with the swan keeper, the habitat and other surroundings. This may alleviate their wanting to leave the area. But, again, a non-pinioned bird can fly.

You need to ask the park staff if they have ever seen them fly and if so, how far off the ground. If they can get at least 6 feet off the ground, then they have the possibility of flying higher. It may be that the pond they are located does not have a sufficient take-off area for the swans to get airborne. The more confined the pond, the less chance that flight may occur. So, if you pond is confined with structures, plants, etc., it may prevent the swans from flying, but since they are not used to the area, they could get hurt if there are unfamiliar obstacles in the area such as buildings, electrical lines, etc.

Finally, pinioning at 8 years of age can be done, BUT WE STRONGLY DISCOURAGE this procedure. Even though most states require a captive swan to be pinioned, it is extremely hard on the birds once they get older. They can die from the anesthesia or trauma associated with pinioning. Should you still seek pinioning, you must have a licensed veterinarian perform the procedure under anesthesia. The birds must be watched closely for 3-7 days and kept out of the water. This will mean that a dry pen area, garage, or critical/progressive care facility must be used so that the surgical site has time to heal in a dry clean setting. The wounds must be checked daily for any signs of infection and the birds may have to be kept on pain killers. This is why it is so important that the swans be pinioned between 1-3 weeks of age and no later.

You might also check with the park staff to ensure that the swans have not been pinioned. Many times, people will think that a swan is pinioned when they are not and vice versa. This confusion occurs because pinioning is usually conducted on one wing not both. So, if a person does not know what a pinioned wing looks like, they may assume that it is or is not pinioned. The swans may be pinioned which would be the reason that the swans cannot fly. Hopefully, if you decide to go with the two females, you will find a nice safe secure home for the two males. If you do not have a home, you might want to contact Bob Knox at Knox Swans (www.canadiangoosecontrol.com) to see if he can find a home for them. We hope this information is of benefit. The Regal Swan