First, how large is your pond? If it is fairly large, you will need to enlist a couple of kayakers. Have the kayakers slowly ease the swans into an area in which the swans can be safely netted (with a large salmon net). Gently remove them from the net by placing your hands over their wings (so they cannot hit you). Gently grab their feet with their wings safely against your chest. Place the birds into a large animal carrier such as a large dog carrier. Place one bird in each container and provide a towel so that the birds do not slip on the bottom of the carrier and hurt themselves. Place the container on top of a towel in your vehicle to prevent any fecal matter from escaping the carrier. Transport to the golf course.

It is important that a temporary pen with feeder be installed at the golf course on the pond from which they will be released. The swans need to stay in the pen (1/2 in the water and 1/2 on the banks) for approximately 2-3 weeks. They should be trained how to use the feeder system relevant to the golf course. The swans should be fed lettuce and some small amounts of bread throughout the day by the same person so that the swans learn to recognize their new keeper. The swans should also be placed on a safe pond so that no golf ball or golfers can accidently hit them. You must also guard against any predators on the golf course, i.e., wolf, fox, coyote, etc.

Once the swans have learned the feeding system, the swan keeper and their habitat, they can be safely released in about 3 weeks. The pen should be removed and food still dropped in the area so that the swans will stay in their new habitat. We hope that this information is of benefit. The Regal Swan