I recently had to capture a 6 month old cygnet which had swallowed several feet of fishing line. Finally used a bedsheet to block her from the water (she was on land) and another person moved in and caught her. I had wanted to get just a hand on her back to press down and pick her up, but she was a fast little sucker, even though pinioned. I have your book, but none of your methods worked. Of course, I did not have small boats available at the time, and no swan hook or fencing to help. What is your best advice for the real world of manmade lakes and amateurs to catch, without harming, a single swan? For instance, would tossing the bed sheet over her briefly have harmed her? I'm talking just long enough to place a hand on her back and picking her up. Secondly, we need new DNA to avoid inbreeding. Our 80 acre manmade lake will not support a larger population. Want to trade, or sell us new blood and help find homes for some of our current resident population? I live in Southern California, about 20 miles from the Pacific Ocean near San Diego. And what about shipping swans? How is it done, do they survive the stress of it, and how do I introduce a swan to the lake without fencing (won't be allowed by HOAs).? What is the optimum age to introduce a new swan to our 8 swan population consisting of one breeding pair, two female cygnets, and 5 unattached bachelors ranging in age of two to who knows, not over six years of age.? If this is not done now, the bachelors are going to force our two female cygnets (one of whom is DNA sex typed for sure) over the outlet dam to the lake, where they will be killed by a mountain lion or coyotes. All of our population is now inbred, although healthy so far. Do you have a source for a swan hook? And in detail, how is it safely used? Also, I would like to know what innoculations are available for common swan diseases? How often do they need to be updated? Is there an innoculation for the H1N1 virus in fowl? Would appreciate your input so much.