Ask the Swan Specialist

Re: A New & Beautiful Visitor
By:The Regal Swan
Date: 21 January 2013
In Response To: A New & Beautiful Visitor (Cindy)

Hi Cindy:

What is the color of the swan's beak? If it is orange, then it it is a mute swan. There is no species of swan named The Regal Swan. This is the name of our organization. If the swan's bill is black and no yellow coloration around the eye, then it is a Trumpeter Swan. If the swan has a black bill and a yellow coloration around the eye, then it is a Tundra Swan.

Does your grass and woodland areas have any predators? If so, it may be dangerous for the swan to stay in the area, especially on the bank. If the swan stays in the water, it has a better chance of survival, unless you have aquatic predators such as alligators.

You can try to feed and become friendly with the swan, but there is no guarantee that it will stay, especially if it can fly and, there are predators in the area and a limited amount of aquatic vegetation as a food source. You can provide the swan with cracked corn and poultry layer pellet (50-50% mixture) as well as lettuce to supplement the swan's diet as well a vegetative needs. Does your lake freeze during the winter? This will also be a major factor if the swan will stay. It the lake freezes, you will need to get an aerator to keep the pond open for the swan to feed, bathe and generally seek shelter in the water. If the pond freezes, the food sources are non-existent which can cause the swan to starve, fall through the ice and drown or have predators gain access onto the frozen pond and kill the swan. So, all of these factors must be taken into consideration as well as the individual attributes of the swan in determining whether it will stay in the area. More than likely, it is a swan that has migrated and is looking for a winter stopover. The Regal Swan

Messages In This Thread

A New & Beautiful Visitor -- Cindy -- 20 January 2013
Re: A New & Beautiful Visitor -- The Regal Swan -- 21 January 2013