If something is wrong with one member of the family, birds and animals will sacrifice the injured or sick member rather than have a predator reach out and kill all of the other members. The last thing that parents of healthy offspring want to see is a predator stalking a slow moving injured or sick youngster only to have the predator find out about the other healthier young.

The best thing that can be done for the young swan is to capture him and turn him over to a wildlife rehabilitation center. The parents will not take him back and he will not survive on his own if he is less than a year old. If you live near the Kellogg Bird Center at Eastern Michigan University, they may have someone who can help guide you to the right person. The Regal Swan