Yes, you should be concerned about the oiling of his feathers as he can readily drown. For the next week, drench him in warm water and let him preen himself dry. This means completely soak him so that he looks like a drenched waterlogged bird. Place him in a warm area, blot him lightly with a towel and let him continue the drying process himself.

Do this once a day for a week. Once this period ends, his oiling should be complete. Just in the event, something goes wrong with the oiling, ensure that you have a boat/kayak or some rescue vehicle readily available once you release him. Observe him closely, if he gets into trouble you can quickly rescue him.

Look for him sinking or sitting really low in the water. He may go out and immediately bathe, i.e., dip his head and whole body under water to give himself a good bath. But, if he looks totally drenched and cannot sit up on the water, then you may need to work on the drenching/oiling process again on land. Please let us know how this works out. The Regal Swan
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