As long as a body of water is freshwater, then swans can and will be found in that body of water. They probably can fly, but may just have been enjoying the wave action and the coolness of the water. There is so much drought at this time as well as hot temperatures, that many birds and animals are adapting the best way they can and any body of water is going to be used for food, water and cooling down.

Unless they are on the migratory pattern, most swans do not fly for great distances rather, they will stay in familiar territory. Once on the migratory path, they will fly great distances to get away from cool temperatures, utilizing wetland stopovers until they reach their destinations to sit out the winter. Migration usually (depending on species) will begin in September. The Regal Swan