This could be a young swan that was on the migratory path or chased from his habitat by his parents so that he does leave on the migratory path. He
may have been blown off course and is resting to get his strength up so that he can continue along his trek. What color is the bill (orange-Mute, black-Trumpeter, black with yellow spot near his eye-Tundra). Tundra and Trumpeters are protected, but the various state wildlife officials are falsely labeling Mute swans as non-native and invasive so they can be killed. The Mute Swans are being killed to open habitat for more Trumpeter Swans to be introduced by the state wildlife officials into areas they never inhabited. This plan began approximately 20 years ago to bring the Trumpeter Swans back so they could be hunted as Trophy Waterfowl to increase diminishing wildlife budgets. Unfortunately, 10 Trumpeter Swans were just okayed to be killed by native tribes by the U.S. Wildlife Service and now biologists are asking if there are enough of them to begin general hunting, the plan is now being fulfilled even after decades of misrepresentation and misinformation by state and federal wildlife agencies.

So, if you call your local state wildlife agency, there is a good chance that the swan is going to be killed if it is a Mute Swan, relocated for future hunting if it is a Tundra or Trumpeter Swan. The swan is evidently finding something to eat, i.e., aquatic vegetation. Swans do not live on brim or other fish unless they accidently ingest fish larvae or frogs while they forage at the bottom of the muck. On another note, they do not destroy aquatic vegetation that various state and federal wildlife agencies want the public to believe as a reason to kill the swans. They in fact are a Sentinel species in that they alert scientists to problems in the habitat such as high levels of heavy metals or harmful microorganisms.

Swans will usually not chase the other waterfowl (another myth) unless he/she has cygnets (baby swans) and there is competition for food or nesting areas. Even then, there is research that the swans, especially Mute Swans are no more aggressive than any other waterfowl when protecting their young or habitat. In fact, we have even seen more waterfowl in an area with swans because as the swans feed from the vegetation, they actually dredge up other vegetation and aquatic life that other waterfowl can feed. We hope that the swan will leave the area on its own, but if it does not, then it means that there is an ample food supply, plenty of water (pond is not going to freeze), and is a safe area with no predators or other problems. In any case, we believe that eventually, the young bird will leave for the winter. The Regal Swan