Ask the Swan Specialist

Re: Year old swans won
By:The Regal Swan
Date: 11 May 2016
In Response To: Year old swans won't leave pond (Jill)

Hi Jill:

Because the parents can't fly, they have not been able to show the young where to go and offer alternate habitats. Eventually, the cygnets will leave or they will be constantly harassed until they may die from injury or stress from not being able to enter or exit the water for feeding and bathing purposes.

If these swan parents are pinioned (unable to fly), then the cygnets are to be pinioned also in a captive setting. So, the owners may be in violation of state law by having cygnets that can fly and start a feral population.

However, knowing that Ohio wildlife officials and other states are trying to promote the killing of Mute Swans to introduce more of the Trumpeter Swans for Trophy Waterfowl Hunting purposes, these same wildlife officials may be turning a deft ear so that the wild population can increase quickly for the hunting to take place and their wildlife budgets increased. The Regal Swan

Messages In This Thread

Year old swans won't leave pond -- Jill -- 11 May 2016
Re: Year old swans won -- The Regal Swan -- 11 May 2016