Nesting season begins in March or April, culminating in a 30-40 day incubation period for the swans. This is why having the birds penned for this long is not really an issue because they are on the nest anyway.

The birds do need water to bathe, so if you cannot capture the 2 juveniles, you may need to pen the adults (remember that the pen has to be 1/2 in water and 1/2 on land (no steep banks) with a feeder inside the pen. The pen must also be protected on top and under the bottom so that predators cannot climb or dig into the pen).

Older swans can be pinioned, but the older the birds, the harder it is for their system and they can even die under the anesthesia. Anesthesia must be used by an experienced avian waterfowl veterinarian to conduct the procedure. Once the surgery occurs, pain killers must be given to the birds for several days and the birds have to go indoors to prevent the sutures from getting wet and infected. This is the reason that is so important to have pinioning conducted 1-3 weeks of age.

We do not know the avian veterinarians in your area. You will need to either 1) contact your state veterinary medical board or 2) google: Long's Waterfowl in California. Speak with Jack Long and see if he knows anyone in your area as he deals with swans.

Washington State is a state that views Mute Swans as feral species and they have individuals (non-state licensed) individuals who will egg addle (to kill the cygnets prior to hatching) because they feel that the mute swans are destroying habitats for native species of waterfowl. You may need a license/permit to have possession of the birds and trying to get them help may be an issue if you do not have a permit. However, this should not stop you from seeking help for the birds, especially the female so that wing does not get entangled on something and is completely torn from her body or she dies from a predator or injuries due to the entanglement.

As far as having someone help capture the birds, you may need to ask Jack Long if he knows of any rescue folks in your area. Otherwise, you may need to wait until nighttime and the birds go onto the nest. Capture them, and quickly place them in a pen with nesting material. You need to do this once they start nesting so that you do not destroy a large number of eggs. Good Luck. The Regal Swan