Do you have a gate to the fence? If you can get a group of friends, stand behind the swan and walk him to the fence. Make sure that there are people on the outside of the fence that form a sort of funnel that will cause him to go directly to the river. There are no guarantees that he might not fly back since he found such a hospitable site in your pool. He may feel safe there, but it is not good with so much chlorine. Also, domesticated predators, dogs, cats, etc., and wild predators, coyote, raccoon, fox, etc., could access your backyard and seriously hurt or kill him.

If there is not a gate to the backyard towards the river, then try to use the same idea with getting him to walk out of an opening and direct him back to the river. This will be the easiest as you will not have to capture him and handle him. But, if you do have to capture him, use a large net, wrap him in a blanket, being careful to control his wings and feet so you and he do not get injured. Then, take him to the river and slowly release him out of the blanket to the bank of the river. Good luck, please let us know how this works out. The Regal Swan