There could be several scenarios playing out.

1. It is migration time and the female is migrating (yes captive swans will walk to another site during the migration period).

2. The male is acting aggressively toward her and she is trying to escape the aggression . He may be preventing her from entering or exiting the water, feeding, etc. If so, then you need to place one of the swans in a pen (1/2 on water and 1/2 on land with a feeder inside). The pen should be completely covered from top to bottom with metal fencing such as chain/poultry fencing so that no predators can dig under the pen or access the pen by crawling over and into the pen. The swans may need to chill out to reintroduce them and insure that no further aggression is occurring. Before using the pen, try to observe if there is any aggression such as chasing or tail nipping by the male swan. If not, then this is not the cause.

3. Something is in the pond or habitat that is scaring the female. Could there have been a predator in the habitat (domestic dog, cat, human, fox, raccoon, snapping turtle, etc.). Did someone move into the area with a dog or children that may be upsetting to the swan?

4. The swan is ill and is trying to stay out of the water because she is ill, knows she is ill and is afraid of drowning. You might want to get her to an experienced avian (bird)/waterfowl veterinarian to exam her for disease of illness.

Please let us know how this works out. The Regal Swan