Yes, swans can attack and hurt you if you are struck by their wings, especially young children and pets. You were doing nothing except being in its area. This is nesting season and swans are very good and protective parents. Swan parents will patrol a vast area to prevent any perceived predator from getting near their nest or young.

This behavior may last a few weeks until the cygnets (baby swans) are hatched and reach a few weeks of age. Then, the hormones will go back down and he/she will become its normal semi-nice self.

There are 2 things that you can do to help prevent any major confrontations.

1. Keep the pets and children away from the area, especially during nesting season. Remeber, this is natural behavior during nesting season and you would not want any strange humans or animals around your children.

2. You can go out onto the dock and as soon as the swan comes up to the dock to start hissing and carrying on, throw it some food, i.e., lettuce, cracked corn and poultry layer pellets and a small amount of bread. Throw the food directly into the water as swans need water to digest their food and prevent choking.

The bird will associate your house as a "swan friendly" habitat and as the cygnets are hatched, will bring the family over to visit. This will provide many hours of enjoyment and an opportunity to teach children about nature. The cracked corn and poultry layer pellets will also supplement the swan family's nutritional needs, especially if the habitat does not have an adequate food supply to feed the swans. Swan parents will use natural resources, i.e., aquatic vegetation, etc., to feed the cygnets, but will use your food as a supplemental food source which will help the cygnets grow healthy and strong. Again, do not hand feed or allow the children to get too close to the swans. If the swans do accept the food, you can allow your child to throw food into the water and the swans will accept your and your family as friends as long as you do not try to touch or handle the birds.

Now, if you do not want the swan hanging around your house, forget about feeding as the swans will become little beggars looking for their supplemental food and will constantly hang around your house/dock. The Regal Swan