Ask the Swan Specialist

Swan Nesting Platforms -- The Regal Swan -- 7 March 2010

Hi Everyone: We are including a photo of a swan nesting platform that we have been testing at Lake Eola in Orlando. We have had several inquiries about swans using nesting platforms and we are ...

How can I build a lightweight floating swan nest? -- Summer Devlin -- 6 March 2010

Raccoons and fox are constantly getting my black swan eggs. I want to build a lightweight floating swan nest for my pond. Can you offer me any inexpensive, lightweight floating pond platform ideas. ...

Re: How can I build a lightweight floating swan nest? -- The Regal Swan -- 6 March 2010

Hi Summer: We think we can help you as we just placed a floating platform in Lake Eola and will be placing another one next Saturday. You can view the platforms on www.facebook.com, The Regal Swan ...

Introducing a new mate -- Michelle -- 5 March 2010

We recently loss our beautiful female swan due to a coyote attack. Will we be able to introduce a new mate to our cob at some point, or is he better off being alone? Our cob is 6 years old. How long ...

Re: Introducing a new mate -- The Regal Swan -- 6 March 2010

Hi Michelle: Yes, you can introduce another mate, but wait until after mating season (April) before you make the introduction. Also, ensure that a pen (covered-1/2 on land, 1/2 in the water) is used ...

baby swans -- Jo Llanto -- 5 March 2010

Our swans have 5 eggs. When the baby swans come. what do we feed them? Do we keep them with the adult swans or put them in a separate place? We are afraid the hawk will get the baby swans . Should we ...

Re: baby swans -- The Regal Swan -- 6 March 2010

Hi Jo: You can feed them poultry mash (same as pellets only more ground) or feed them the poultry pellets and cracked corn. Once the pellets hit the water, they soften anyway. You should keep the ...

Pinioning wings of cygnets -- Carol -- 4 March 2010

I just read this in a previous post (If you must pinion an older cygnet or swan, it must be done under anesthesia by a certified veterinarian with expertise in pinioning of waterfowl.) Are you saying ...

Re: Pinioning wings of cygnets -- The Regal Swan -- 4 March 2010

Hi Carol: You do not need a general anesthesia if the pinioning is done between 1-3 weeks of age. A local topical anesthesia can be sufficient. At this age, the blood vessels, nerve endings, bones, ...

Re: Pinioning wings of cygnets -- Carol -- 5 March 2010

Thanks so much for your quick reply. So now what's the trick to catching the cygnets without the parents attacking?? I'm excited to think they will have cygnets this season but can you tell I'm ...

cygnets question -- troy cook -- 3 March 2010

we have been raising australian and whhooper swans for over ten years. The last two years the hawks have taken every one of the australian swans cygnets. This year a coyote got our male. The pen ...

Re: cygnets question -- The Regal Swan -- 4 March 2010

Hi Troy: We are sending this question to The Regal Swan veterinarians and will try to provide an answer in the near future. In the meantime, have you had a necropsy done on the cygnets to see if they ...

young swan -- Pat Licata -- 2 March 2010

Hello, I live on a 550 acre lake that is home to approx 10-15 mute swans. Yesterday a young swan appeared at my dock, and I am assuming it was born last spring, as it still has many of it's baby ...

Re: young swan -- The Regal Swan -- 2 March 2010

Hi Pat: It seems that you are doing everthing correctly. The younger cygnets (juveniles) can basically go out on their own after their parents remove the young birds from their care and this may be ...

Re: young swan -- Pat Licata -- 5 March 2010

Thanks for the information. The young swan, Peneolope, can fly beautifully and does so when others chase her from my cove. Is it too early to tell if this swan is Polish or Royal? I'm assuming she ...

Re: young swan -- The Regal Swan -- 6 March 2010

Hi Pat: Coloration to the beak and the white feathers come along in about 9-12 months of age. A polish mute cygnet is going to be white in color while a royal mute will be taupe grey. An adult polish ...

Looking for Mute swan hatching eggs -- Mohammed -- 17 February 2010

Am looking from long time for Mute swan hatching eggs any numbers if you dont mind can you help me to found any breeders for mute swan to buy hatching eggs from them. I live in Torrance, California ...

Re: Looking for Mute swan hatching eggs -- The Regal Swan -- 17 February 2010

Hi Mohammed: The state of California has restricted the ownership of Mute swans. You must have a permit to own and maintain the swans, therefore, you need to check with your state wildlife officials ...

Psycho Swan -- Caroline Christie -- 17 February 2010

I have 6 swans, all siblings. They are 10 months old. One of the swans has started terrorizing the others. I have seen him try to kill one by holding it's head under water. Luckily it escaped. All of ...

Re: Psycho Swan -- The Regal Swan -- 17 February 2010

Hi Caroline: Several things may be occurring. If the swan is the same age as the other swans, he is exhibiting a "leader of the pack" behavior. The holding of the head under water can be either ...

Re: Psycho Swan -- Caroline Christie -- 17 February 2010

Update: By afternoon the other 5 siblings were on the shore, and our Bad Boy was patroling the shoreline like the National Guard. His neck was looped so that his chin rested on his neck, and his ...

Re: Psycho Swan -- The Regal Swan -- 17 February 2010

Hi Caroline: This situation sounds just like you described, a two year old trying himself. It is amazing that the swans will actually start to behave once the caretaker becomes the lead swan. ...

SWANS DYING -- ANGEL -- 13 February 2010

We live in pennsylvania, and have had swans for many years. 2 weeks ago our male black swan died now our male white swan is showing sighs of death. what should we do?

Re: SWANS DYING -- The Regal Swan -- 13 February 2010

Hi Angel: What are the symptoms? How many swans do you have and are these the only two that have been affected? Could the swans be affected by the recent terrible snowstorm which may be affecting ...

New Swan Products -- The Regal Swan -- 12 February 2010

Hi Everyone: We are pleased to announce swan products that we have been developing to help facilitate humane veterinary medical care for swans worldwide. Angi Perretti, Vice President of Product ...

swans in kansas -- kristine -- 12 February 2010

There is a family of swans that have landed at the Douglas County Lake in Kansas. I have been in this area all my life and this is the first time I have seen swans out there. Is this unusual? I ...

Re: swans in kansas -- The Regal Swan -- 12 February 2010

Hi Kristine: We know that there are swans in the area so they may just not have been on your particular lake in the past. Due to the inclement weather conditions this year, swans may be migrating to ...

Swans as pets. -- Jessica. -- 10 February 2010

Are swans illegal to keep as a pet in California? And if not, where could I buy one?

Re: Swans as pets. -- The Regal Swan -- 11 February 2010

Hi Jessica: Yes, mute swans are considered a feral species and you must have a permit to possess them. You should check with your local state fish & wildlife commission to see exactly what ...

Feeding swans -- kerry -- 7 February 2010

Hi, there are some swans near to where i live and i would like to know if there is anything that i can feed to them ? Thanks for your help \-|">

Re: Feeding swans -- The Regal Swan -- 7 February 2010

Hi Kerry: Yes, you can feed them a mixture of 1/2 cracked corn and 1/2 poultry layer pellets. Also, give them lettuce. You can feed them a little bread, but not a lot as bread can change their blood ...

Need a Male Swan -- Carol Pike -- 3 February 2010

Good Morning, I live in Indianapolis on the White River. A few years ago a pair of White Swans (clipped) took up residence on the River. This past summer the male swan disapeared, and the female swan ...

Re: Need a Male Swan -- The Regal Swan -- 3 February 2010

Hi Carol: There is no guarantee that the lone female will pair up with another male, but you can try. In fact, she may try to pair with a wild swan if they are flying into the area. If you still want ...

white swan with dark young swan -- France Ciel d,August -- 2 February 2010

Hello, a week or so ago I had the opportunity to shoot some pics of wild white swans. one pair had a young swan but almost as big as parents.. It is a dark brownish gray color.. my question is: can ...

Re: white swan with dark young swan -- The Regal Swan -- 4 February 2010

Hi France: The mute swan cannot produce a black cygnet because these are two different species of swans. However, the coloring of a cygnet from a mute parent can be a very dark gray color which ...

Re: white swan with dark young swan -- France -- 4 February 2010

Thank you very much for your reply.. what you told me was very clear and gave me the answer to the question I asked... now I have another question.. Will the Royal Mute be accepted by the mute flock ...

Re: white swan with dark young swan -- The Regal Swan -- 4 February 2010

Hi France: Most Mute swans are Royal although neither color variations are rare. Because the designation of Polish Mute is just a leucistic coloration, many Royals will pair with Polish Mutes and ...

injured swan -- Sue -- 18 January 2010

Hi, We have a wild(ish) swan that flies into our lake from time to time, this morning we found it down by the road and her knob on her forehead is busted open , not sure if her wing is injured but ...

Re: injured swan -- The Regal Swan -- 18 January 2010

Hi Sue: If she is not flying and you can readily capture her, do so without further injuring her or yourself. Watch the wings and place her on a towel in an animal carrier or large box. If you use a ...

Where to buy swans in PA -- Cara -- 16 January 2010

Hi there We live in eastern PA and are interested in purchasing 4 swans for our property. would you be able to tell me if there are any around here to purchase. or where I would go? Thank You Cara

Re: Where to buy swans in PA -- The Regal Swan -- 16 January 2010

Hi Cara: First, you would need to see if your state Wildlife Commission allows you to possess swans in your area. The most popular swans for pond/lake adornment are the Mute Swans (orange beak), the ...

Help -- amy short -- 13 January 2010

I had 2 Black Swans for 2 years-Buck and Mimi. I am sad and heartbroken to share that Mimi was attacked and killed by a predator yesterday. Today I found Buck to be withdrawn and not interested in ...

Re: Help -- The Regal Swan -- 14 January 2010

Hi Amy: So sorry to hear about your loss. We can understand your feelings as we had two of our oldest parents killed by a bobcat several months ago. It is heart rendering and nothing you can do or ...

Are swans a domesticated animal -- Marc Balzac -- 12 January 2010

Are black swans considered a domesticated animal in the United States?

Re: Are swans a domesticated animal -- The Regal Swan -- 12 January 2010

Hi Marc: No, the black swan is indigenous to Australia. Therefore, even though they may be bred by swan breeders for usage on various ponds and lakes as an adornment in the U.S., they are considered ...

swans survival -- Sherry Tubbs -- 11 January 2010

I have a swan that is in the inlet in front of my house. Salt water inlet. The swan is there each evening and it is so cold outside (about 25 degrees) and I feed it some bread and lettuce.What can I ...

Re: swans survival -- The Regal Swan -- 12 January 2010

Hi Sherry: The first thought is why the swan is in the salt water inlet. The South American Black-Necked swan lives around brackish water and it is believed to have a gland which can filter some salt ...

Too cold outside -- Kelley V -- 4 January 2010

I am wondering at what temp do you have to worry about the health of a Muted Swan? We have a 1 1/2 acre pond and have adopted/rescued 2 swans last July. It has gotten very cold here (18-30 degrees F) ...

Re: Too cold outside -- The Regal Swan -- 4 January 2010

Hi Kelly: It was nice speaking with you this afternoon. I am sharing my thoughts with you on this website as we are getting many of the same questions across the country due to the cold weather. A ...

foot problem -- Anette -- 1 January 2010

Hello Swan Specialist, I feed a swan every day and for the last four days, he hasn't used his left leg. He keeps it up all the time. He doesn't use it when swimming either. He eats normally. I do not ...

Re: foot problem -- The Regal Swan -- 1 January 2010

Hi Anette: If you can watch him, see if he plants the foot and walks while on land. Sometimes, swans will hold a foot to rest on their back or dissipate heat. The foot can be opened or closed. If the ...

migratory swan? -- gary -- 16 December 2009

We have about two hundred swan on the lake behind our house. Will they be here for the winter or will they migrate south. We are on Lake St. Clair near Masonic. (ST. Clair shores)

Re: migratory swan? -- The Regal Swan -- 17 December 2009

Hi Gary: We're not sure exactly which Lake St. Clair you are located as we do know that there is a location that acts as a wetland stopover during the spring and fall season for ducks, geese and ...

Deep clicking or motor boat sound -- Marc Balzac -- 16 December 2009

Twelve year old black female has a faint clicking or motor boat sound every time she takes a breath…

Re: Deep clicking or motor boat sound -- The Regal Swan -- 16 December 2009

Hi Marc: She may have an upper respiratory infection and need an antibiotic. You need to get her to an avian veterinarian before this condition possibly results in pneumonia which can kill her. The ...

Re: Deep clicking or motor boat sound -- Marc Balzac -- 17 December 2009

Thanks for the help…We got her to the best Vet in the area and she is now on antibiotics…I was pleasantly surprised how much she enjoyed the four hour car ride in the special area we fixed up for her ...

Re: Deep clicking or motor boat sound -- The Regal Swan -- 17 December 2009

Hi Marc: You are welcome and glad you got her to the veterinarian so that she was placed on antibiotics. Please let us know how she is progressing. The Regal Swan

Care of swans during the winter (frozen pond, shelter, food) -- Patty -- 15 December 2009

I have a few questions regarding our swans we have. We have 1 male & 1 female approximately 3yrs. old. We bought them this past spring, I believe they are mute. They are on our pond and we have a ...

Re: Care of swans during the winter (frozen pond, shelter, food) -- The Regal Swan -- 15 December 2009

Hi Patty: Swans eat aquatic vegetation, lettuce, bread, poultry layer pellets and cracked corn. Unfortunately, swans will not go into any structure like a dog house. We have seen zoos place them ...

update on Carl/question regarding lettuce -- Pat Licata -- 14 December 2009

Hello, As an update...I've successfully harrassed the bully pair so they they don't come into my yard to attack Carl. Of course, Carl is quite pleased with this development! It is so cute to see him ...

Re: update on Carl/question regarding lettuce -- The Regal Swan -- 14 December 2009

Hi Pat: Lettuce is an acquired taste for some swans. You might try iceberg lettuce. Try to pull the greenery away from the stems and offer only the leafy parts to see if that might entice him to eat ...

crooked leg disease -- Ron In KC -- 13 December 2009

As you know i just purchased 2 mute female swans, one walks just fine the other one does not. i contacted my vet and he seems to think that the bird has what is called "crooked leg disease", caused ...

Re: crooked leg disease -- The Regal Swan -- 13 December 2009

Hi Ron: We will need to defer this diagnosis to your local avian veterinarian as far as proper diagnosis and treatment. The poultry pellets provide the swans with the necessary vitamins, minerals and ...

Swan survival on frozen pond -- John Polkowski -- 12 December 2009

Hi, I live in Connecticut next to a small lake that freezes over in the winter months. For the first time since we moved here in 1985, we had a couple of swans that nested and gave birth to 4 ...

Re: Swan survival on frozen pond -- The Regal Swan -- 12 December 2009

Hi John: Most likely, the swan will die especially since he is a young bird. If you can catch him or get a local wildlife rehabilitation center to help, this is going to be his only chance for ...

Re: Swan survival on frozen pond -- John Polkowski -- 13 December 2009

Hi, thanks for your reply. The parents' beaks are orange so I guess they must be mute swans. The pond froze over last night and the swan was sitting on the ice in the middle. I put some food on the ...

Re: Swan survival on frozen pond -- The Regal Swan -- 13 December 2009

Hi John: The melting of the pond is a good thing and will allow you to entice him to seek food from you. Keep enticing him with the food as close to your house as possible with bread. Place the ...

Re: Swan survival on frozen pond -- John Polkowski -- 3 March 2010

Just an update. After your last advice, I went out and bought the cracked corn and layer pellets, but the next day he was gone. There was no evidence of any "foul" play. Winter is now basically over ...

Re: Swan survival on frozen pond -- The Regal Swan -- 3 March 2010

Hi John: Great News. Thanks for the update. The Regal Swan

Blitz Feeders -- Ron In KC -- 12 December 2009

Ok, I have a fountain in the center of my pond that keeps the water open from the ice, about 4o feet in diameter, it has lights that i leave on all nigft, the waterfowl, ducks and swans, seem to love ...

Re: Blitz Feeders -- Admin -- 12 December 2009

Photos: http://www.stanley-park-swans.com/RegalSwanGallery/1/lg/New_Feeder.htm http://www.stanley-park-swans.com/RegalSwanGallery/1/lg/CEO_Don_Harrill.htm ...

How to Mount Blitz Feeders -- The Regal Swan -- 12 December 2009

Hi Ron: The website administrator is going to send you some links/photos for the Blitz feeder. You will need to mount the feeder on a pole 3-4 feet in the water away from the bank. You do not want ...

Feeding Swans -- Ron In KC -- 10 December 2009

I just purchased two swans for my pond, there is a fountain in the middle with lights, there is an open area about 30 ft in diameter, the swans are still in my garage where they are safe. It is my ...

Re: Feeding Swans -- The Regal Swan -- 10 December 2009

Hi Ron: For the winter, the swans are better in your garage. You can feed them poultry layer pellets mixed with cracked corn in water. You should also feed them lettuce and some bread. Just place the ...

Re: hurting their legs. -- Ron In KC -- 11 December 2009

I like the kiddie pool idea but what do you mean hurt their legs? I have a wash rack in my barn for the horses and would be a good place to wash or bath the Swans. The kidde pools that i have seen, ...

Re: hurting their legs. -- The Regal Swan -- 11 December 2009

Hi Ron: The swans, especially if they are very young cannot step over the walls of a kiddie pool. They usually land up flailing their wings and propelling themselves in and out of the pool. However, ...

swan pen/fencing -- Mike -- 10 December 2009

We operate a park in the st. Louis, Missouri area. We are about to purchase two swans(male/female) to place on our 6 acre man made circular lake. The entire lake area is fenced (chain link to keep ...

Re: swan pen/fencing -- The Regal Swan -- 10 December 2009

Hi Mike: There are several considerations regarding your purchase of the swans and the fencing requirements. First, the fence will keep the swans in, but the fence will not keep predators such as ...

SCARE GEESE AWAY -- RON -- 9 December 2009

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, I HAVE A POND ROUGHLY 400X100FT I HAVE 25 GEESE LIVING THERE THAT I WANT TO GET RID OF. CAN I PUT SOME SWANS IN THE POND TO SCARE THE GEESE AWAY?HOW DO I GO ABOUT IT? RON

Re: SCARE GEESE AWAY -- The Regal Swan -- 9 December 2009

Hi Ron: There are two factions regarding swans chasing geese from a habitat. One faction states that the swans act as a deterrent and the other faction states that swans are useless as the geese get ...

Winter care for new baby swans -- denise -- 4 December 2009

I have a pair of australian black swans. they successfully mated and hatched four eggs on May 31, 2009. Assuming that either large cat fish or snapping turtles were the culprit, all four cygnets ...

Re: Winter care for new baby swans -- The Regal Swan -- 4 December 2009

Hi Denise: Black swans mate and produce cygnets twice a year. Other swan species usually produce one clutch a year. Yes, the cold temperatures can get to the cygnets as well as the adults as the ...

Re: Winter care for new baby swans -- Denise -- 7 December 2009

Thank you very much for your response. We decided to bring the entire family in on Saturday since the weather dropped into the twenties. They seem to be doing fine, although I don't think the parents ...

Re: Winter care for new baby swans -- The Regal Swan -- 7 December 2009

Hi Denise: You are very welcome and if you need any other assistance, please let us know. Glad to know that you brought everyone indoors. It will be safer and warmer for all concerned although you ...

submissive lone swan -- pat licata -- 24 November 2009

Hello, I'm back with yet another question! Since Carl is picked on by every other swan in our lake, I was wondering if there is a reason for this. Does his not having a mate or being somewhat ...

Re: submissive lone swan -- The Regal Swan -- 25 November 2009

Hi Pat: You are welcome. Nature is not sympathetic or very patient with old age or disabilities. In fact, nature is very cruel in this sense so most old and injured animals do not make it in the ...

new swans in the lake-update -- Pat Licata -- 23 November 2009

Hi, As an update...this morning the more aggressive of the two "new" swans caught Carl and was attempting to drown him. I was able to intervene so that Carl could escape from under the weight of this ...

Re: new swans in the lake-update -- The Regal Swan -- 23 November 2009

Hi Pat: We would strongly suggest that you capture Carl and place him indoors. In the meantime, take a net and pretend to try and capture the other two swans. If you harrass them enough, they should ...

Re: new swans in the lake-update -- Pat Licata -- 24 November 2009

Thank you so much for your quick response and advice. Unfortunately, I do not have a shed nor garage nor basement. This morning I enticed Carl up to my back door and placed food and lake water in ...

Re: new swans in the lake-update -- The Regal Swan -- 25 November 2009

Hi Pat: We think you are doing everything that you can. Carl apparently understands the safety of your back door, you just don't want him spending the night there unless it is inside the door! Too ...

New swans in the lake -- Pat Licata -- 22 November 2009

Hello, I've messaged several times regarding my lone mute swan, Carl, who lives in "my" cove of a 550 acre lake. There are eight swans inhabiting the lake, and I believe I am able to ...

Re: New swans in the lake -- The Regal Swan -- 23 November 2009

Hi Pat: Yes, the swans could be migrating into your area since it is now migratory season. They are looking for a habitat with a food source. Our best suggestion would be to take Carl indoors ...

Swan with “blown out” knee… -- Marc Balzac -- 14 November 2009

Can anything be done for a “blown out knee”?

Re: Swan with “blown out” knee… -- The Regal Swan -- 15 November 2009

Hi Marc: This appears to be a possible slipped tendon, etc., We are sending an email to our veterinarians to see if this is the case. If it is, not much can be done. Most slipped tendons which can ...

Re: Swan with “blown out” knee… -- Dr. Christopher Brown -- 16 November 2009

Hello, Marc. I am one of the swan veterniarians for The Regal Swan Foundation. I am not sure what you mean by the term "blown out" knee, and I am not certain where the lesion is on the feet of the ...

Re: Swan with “blown out” knee… -- Marc Balzac -- 17 November 2009

The knee does not lock as she tries to walk and the leg bends and touches the ground as she limps along...I thought it might be a common injury. Thanks for your help...

swan greeting -- Anette -- 14 November 2009

Hello Swan Specialist, greetings from Denmark! I feed two swans on a daily basis and this summer was rewarded with five cygnets - Now larger than their parents! I have a questing regarding "swan ...

Re: swan greeting -- The Regal Swan -- 14 November 2009

Hi Anette: Great question! Yes, swans do know their names, recognize people and voices. Just like any other animal, if there is food and a human to provide the food, the animal/bird will become a ...

Placing june -- Lilian -- 3 November 2009

Hello. We have 3 cygnets that are being chased away by their parents on one pond. We thought that we might place those 3 with a male on another pond who was born last year. Do you think the male will ...

Re: Placing june -- The Regal Swan -- 4 November 2009

Hi Lilian: More than likely, the older swan will attack and chase the younger swans. If there is a female among the three, he could hurt her trying to mate too early. The best suggestion would be to ...

coloration.. -- brooke -- 30 October 2009

Cygnets are either brown or white at birth and then both are white in adulthood? why this would make them more sucessful

Re: coloration.. -- The Regal Swan -- 31 October 2009

Hi Brooke: We're not sure why the coloration would make the swans more survivable. But, we do note that most colorful birds (such as songbirds, herons, etc.,) start out light gray or white in color ...

Lump on top of foot… -- Marc Balzac -- 20 October 2009

Do you think the lump on the top of this old males foot is related to his bumble foot?

Re: Lump on top of foot… -- The Regal Swan -- 21 October 2009

Hi Marc: It is a possibility, but we can't be sure without a close-up veterinary medical exam. Usually, bumblefoot is on the pad of the bottom of the foot and does not manifest itself by bulging at ...

Sister swans tending nest? -- Marc Balzac -- 20 October 2009

Is it possible for two sister swans to tend a nest each laying infertile eggs? There were twenty eggs in this nest last season and we’re not sure if they are sisters or brother and sister.

Re: Sister swans tending nest? -- The Regal Swan -- 21 October 2009

Hi Marc: Yes, it is possible that two sisters or two females for that matter would lay eggs (infertile) during nesting season if they do not have a male mate. Twenty eggs seems to indicate there are ...

Swans versus geese -- Richard Keenan -- 13 October 2009

I own a vineyard in Sonoma County in Northern California. On the vineyard, I have a irrigation reservoir that is 2 surface acres when full, and decreases in size as water is used to irrigate the ...

Re: Swans versus geese -- The Regal Swan -- 13 October 2009

Hi Richard: There are a couple of concerns about procuring swans for geese control. 1. You will need to get a permit to have the swans on your lake and/or to import them into the state. 2. Some ...

CARE FOR A MUTE SWAN DURING WINTER TIME -- Joan Millis -- 13 October 2009

Hello, I work for the Town of St. John in St. John. Indiana. This past summer our animal control person came across an injured Mute Swan. Appartently the injury was not bad and the swan was put into ...

Re: CARE FOR A MUTE SWAN DURING WINTER TIME -- The Regal Swan -- 13 October 2009

Hi Joan: Since the swan was previously injured and we presume that he/she has recovered, we would still be concerned about the oncoming winter months and the swan's inability to migrate. Too large a ...

Questions about winter time -- Kim -- 12 October 2009

I am concerned with the swans through winter time. We live near Sacramento Calif. and I am unsure if the swans need some type of warmth through the winter and shelter. We did put a island in the ...

Re: Questions about winter time -- The Regal Swan -- 13 October 2009

Hi Kim: Yes, you are correct in that some swans have no idea about an island and may never use the floating object. Swans have a lot of feathers (nature provided this protection for them with lots of ...

Swan with "growth" -- Debbie -- 10 October 2009

Hi I live in New Mexico on a man made pond. We have a permanent resident swan. The swan has developed a large brown "growth" on his side near his tail feathers. It is not his leg. Any suggestions of ...

Re: Swan with "growth" -- The Regal Swan -- 10 October 2009

Hi Debbie: We can't tell much from the photo. The growth could be a malignant tumor, a non-malignant growth, a wound infection (with an object, such as fish hook, etc., impacted and encapsulated) or ...

Re: Swan with "growth" -- Debbie -- 10 October 2009

I am not sure that I can capture it and I have nothing to put it in. It hisses quite aggressively if you get too close. I will forward the vet recommendation to the community and see if this is ...

Re: Swan with "growth" -- The Regal Swan -- 11 October 2009

Hi Debbie: Yes, this seems like a good plan. The photo and the fact that the bird hisses aggressively would seem to suggest that this is a female swan. Good luck and let us know how this situation is ...

ages -- Steve -- 9 October 2009

Could you tell me the approximate ages of the ones in the picture. I believe there were two clutches. 3 from 1 and 3 from another. I have seen them break into groups, the larger ones in one group and ...

Re: ages -- The Regal Swan -- 10 October 2009

Hi Steve: There is no absolute way of looking at a photo and determining age abecause you need to actually know when the birds were hatched for a definite answer. However, we can make a few ...

Mute Swan beak infection -- Sandra Fassett -- 6 October 2009

Hi Folks, One of our Mute Swans born this year has some kind of infection in the beak that has eroded away part of the upper beak. Please help us understand what causes that and how we can help cure ...

Re: Mute Swan beak infection -- The Regal Swan -- 6 October 2009

Hi Sandra: We would need to see a photo of this problem before we can offer an opinion. If you could get a photo and resubmit your question, we may be able to assist. Thank you. The Regal Swan

Floating Islands For Nesting -- Jeanne Moore -- 2 October 2009

On March 28, 2009 a picture was posted of swans on a floating island. As a Swan volunteer in a golf course community, I would appreciate any information as to the size islands used, how they were ...

Re: Floating Islands For Nesting -- Admin -- 2 October 2009

Hello, 1- In case this info is helpful, I pasted below the specs of these "islandscapes" from the WalMart web site including size (the link appears below Walmart's picture of an islandscape ...

Re: Floating Islands For Nesting -- The Regal Swan -- 3 October 2009

Hi Jeanne: We know that some folks have had success with these islands not necessarily from the Walmart brand. Typically, the various facilities that we are working with have had little to no success ...

Can you identify the sex or variety of mute swan from these pictures? -- David -- 1 October 2009

We were reading through your website about mute swans. We have three swans at our office. It looks to us that one is definitely a male mute swan. The other we think are either females or a different ...

Re: Can you identify the sex or variety of mute swan from these pictures? -- The Regal Swan -- 2 October 2009

Hi David: In order to be 100% sure, you would need to conduct DNA Sequencing or wait until the birds mate and lay their first eggs. The two birds that the Male is chasing are either juvenile swans or ...

Re: Can you identify the sex or variety of mute swan from these pictures? -- David -- 2 October 2009

We don't think they are juveniles, just because they have been around here for over a year. Does the color of the bill have anything to do with what sex they are? The male will interact with one of ...

Re: Can you identify the sex or variety of mute swan from these pictures? -- The Regal Swan -- 4 October 2009

Hi David: Yes, juvenile swans are around 1-2 years of age. It might be that one of the juveniles is a female and the other is a male. Juveniles will also not have the pronounced knob as an adult will ...

Mute Swan Surving NE winters -- Kimberly Bensch -- 24 September 2009

We have a 'resident' mute swan at our mill. He lost his mate earlier this year so we have taken it upon ourselves to befriend him And friends he is with us - he will eat from our hands and enjoys ...

Re: Mute Swan Surving NE winters -- The Regal Swan -- 25 September 2009

Hi Kimberly: If he is tame enough to eat from your hands, then you might try getting him to come up to your house or barn. If you do not have a barn but you have a garage, see if he might come into ...

Abandoned eggs in nest - A poem -- Jane Herschlag -- 23 September 2009

Dear Swan Specialist, Thanks for all the wonderful and fascinating information. So swan parents can be as lousy as human parents. I will enclose a poem of mine which reinforces this idea. SO THIS IS ...

Lonesome male Mute Swan -- Shannon Carter -- 22 September 2009

We recently were given a male swan from a private pond on a plantation. Where can we find a female swan? He is about 2-4 years old and needs a companion. Also, what type of feeder to you recommend?

Re: Lonesome male Mute Swan -- The Regal Swan -- 23 September 2009

Hi Shannon: Individual swans do not necessarily need a mate. Humans want to ensure that animals and birds are not lonesome, but this is good only in theory. There are no guarantees that the male will ...

abandoned eggs in nest -- Jane Herschlag -- 21 September 2009

What could be the reason for the mute swan parents abandoning their six large eggs? Thanks, Jane

Re: abandoned eggs in nest -- The Regal Swan -- 22 September 2009

Hi Jane: There could be any number of reasons: 1. Predator in the area has visited the nest and has scared the parents. 2. All eggs are infertile. How old are the birds? If they are only 2-3 years of ...

Swimming pool to swan pond -- Marc Balzac -- 21 September 2009

I know someone that has a mute swan that seems to prefer his swimming pool to his large pond. I’m sure the chlorine can’t be good for him. What is the best way to convert his in ground swimming pool ...

Re: Swimming pool to swan pond -- The Regal Swan -- 22 September 2009

Hi Marc: We're not sure about the best way to convert the pool to a swan only pond. You would need a way to provide aeration to the pool, clean water without chemicals and we're not sure about the ...

widowed swan response -- Nini -- 17 September 2009

Thanks so much for your response to my dilemma. I didn't give enough information the first time. Lucille is about 6-7 years old and I have had her since she was a juvenile, same with Steve. About two ...

Re: widowed swan response -- The Regal Swan -- 18 September 2009

Hi Nini: The neurological disease could be Botulism. Did your pond have a drawdown due to drought then an increase in rain? If so, this might be the reason. The bird scavenging in the muck got into ...

widowed swan -- Nini -- 17 September 2009

I have a female mute swan whose mate just died and I need some advice. She is located in a large pond self-contained in my backyard. I realize swans mate for life and am concerned for her emotional ...

Re: widowed swan -- The Regal Swan -- 17 September 2009

Hi Nini: There are several factors to consider in this situation: 1. Just because a female or male loses its mate, does not necessarily mean that the swan will remate if introduced to another swan. ...

.50 Cent Campaign. Please Help! -- The Regal Swan -- 15 September 2009

Hi Folks: You may have noticed the ChipIn Widget on the top of The Swans of Stanley Park Home Page ( http://www.stanley-park-swans.com ). We are beginning a .50 cent campaign to help us help swans ...

Supplemental feeding -- Marc Balzac -- 11 September 2009

Per your book you recommend a 1:1 mixture of cracked corn and laying pellets for supplemental feeding. You said that the cracked corn is a “filler” and the nutrition is in the lay pellets. Are you ...

Re: Supplemental feeding -- The Regal Swan -- 11 September 2009

Hi Marc: Great photo and great idea for the feeder so that you do not have to go out in the water to add food. This is a wonderful idea for private owners, however, in a public setting we would ...

Swan master in Calif -- Mike Gustafson -- 8 September 2009

This is a continuation of my previous requests for help finding a swan master/keep in northern Calif. I spoke to Jack Long as you suggested and while he has a list of names that could help he was ...

Re: Swan master in Calif -- The Regal Swan -- 8 September 2009

Hi MIke: Unfortunately, there is no one else that we know in California. We will try to see if anyone has some contacts, but you might even try to use Twitter or Facebook to generate some leads. Good ...

Sick cygnet: head wobbles, falls over on her back, leans on one side, flips onto her back -- Nikki -- 5 September 2009

I have been raising a mute swan for the last couple of months. This week her head began to wobble and she is falling over on her back. She is eating well I just don't understand what has happened and ...

Re: Sick cygnet: head wobbles, falls over on her back, leans on one side, flips onto her back -- The Regal Swan -- 5 September 2009

Hi Nikki: Unfortunately, we can't diagnose this problem without seeing the cygnet. But, it seems that there is an underlying neurological problem. The cygnet needs to be seen by an avian veterinarian ...

Swan food: 50/50 cracked corn + turkey feed? -- Daryl -- 4 September 2009

Good Morning, I purchased a pair of Mute Swans and would like to know if it is ok to feed them a 50/50 mix of cracked corn and Game Feed NatureWise Turkey Crumble Medicated by Nutruna.

Re: Swan food: 50/50 cracked corn + turkey feed? -- The Regal Swan -- 4 September 2009

Hi Daryl: The cracked corn should be mixed with Poultry Layer Pellets. The turkey crumbles/game feed may be too high in protein. High protein content in the diet of swans can increase the possibility ...

Swan questions -- Stacie -- 3 September 2009

The lake behind my house has 7 white swans. 5 of them have vanished after 2 had babies. Do they typically flee like that? 4 cygnets were born, but only 2 have survived to adolescence. 1 of them is ...

Re: Swan questions -- The Regal Swan -- 3 September 2009

Hi Stacie: The swans may have left the area if their young were killed by predators. If there is an unsafe environment, the swans will leave. However, it may also be due to territorialism. Once eggs ...

two dead swans in two weeks -- andrew -- 1 September 2009

Hi I had two swans die unexplained in to weeks, one black, one white, there were visible marks of attack. what could the possibilities that could have killed them.

Re: two dead swans in two weeks -- The Regal Swan -- 2 September 2009

Hi Andrew: The possibilities could be endless. If there was trauma, it could be a domestic dog, fox, raccoon, coyote, bobcat, softshell turtle, or human. Without seeing the trauma or knowing the ...

Re: two dead swans in two weeks -- andrew -- 3 September 2009

oh and i meant that there were no visible signs of attack

Re: two dead swans in two weeks -- andrew -- 3 September 2009

I saw one of them die it was right on the shore by itself and it was flopping around and kept dropping its head in the water and couldn't hardly move it happened in the middle of the day

Re: two dead swans in two weeks -- The Regal Swan -- 3 September 2009

Hi Andrew: This is the classic sign of botulism. In times of hot weather, too much rain after a drought, harmful bacteria are stirred from the bottom of the muck in which the swans eat. They ingest ...

Dad swan has not returned for 3 days -- carol -- 31 August 2009

a male and female mute swans recently had babies; they are 2 half mo old. last week the male left the pond and family, but returned the next day. now its been 3 days and the male has not returned is ...

Re: Dad swan has not returned for 3 days -- The Regal Swan -- 31 August 2009

Hi Carol: We're not sure we can classify this as normal or abnormal behavior as each swan is an individual and has individual attributes. Some males may stay around to watch the mother and cygnets, ...

Father swan attacking 4 month old -- Mary Jane -- 30 August 2009

In our boat basin a single cygnet was born to a couple in May. The male is now cornering the 4 month old in a section of the basin and attacking him - quite violently. Is this normal fledging or will ...

Re: Father swan attacking 4 month old -- The Regal Swan -- 31 August 2009

Hi Mary Jane: This is not normal behavior for a cygnet this young to be attacked by the male unless there is something wrong with the cygnet. Placing the cygnet in another pond with other swans will ...

Re: Father swan attacking 4 month old -- Mary Jane -- 31 August 2009

The Toronto Wildlife Centre agrees that the bird is in peril and they want to rescue it. They plan to come to the basin tomorrow. Thank you for your guidance. MJ

Re: Father swan attacking 4 month old -- The Regal Swan -- 31 August 2009

Hi Mary Jane: Great news. Thanks for sharing. Please keep us updated. The Regal Swan

Male Lost 2nd Mate and Now Really Dislikes New Female -- Shelly -- 26 August 2009

Hi I had 2 swans both about 6 years old that I got from 2 different people that the other had lost it's mate. They paired right up and had 2 seasons of successful cygnets! Juliet the female died ...

Re: Male Lost 2nd Mate and Now Really Dislikes New Female -- The Regal Swan -- 29 August 2009

Hi Shelly: Likely, the male will not accept this female. This may be that she is too young as 1.5 years of age is usually not old enough to successfully mate. In fact, he could hurt her especially if ...

Mute swan walks to the street -- patricia buckley -- 24 August 2009

since april of this year a mute swan has taken residence in a salt water tidal marsh in the rear of my home.we have always feed him in the water.,just recently he has started to leave the waterway ...

Re: Mute swan walks to the street -- The Regal Swan -- 25 August 2009

Hi Patricia: This behavior does need to stop immediately to prevent him from getting run over. He is probably looking for a freshwater pond and Mute swans do not do well in saltwater. They cannot ...

Black and white swans mating: Color of the cygnets? -- Jenny -- 24 August 2009

Hi, Just curious really but maybe you can tell me when a black swan mates with a white swan what colour are the cygnets? A friend of mine thinks they are always white as the black swan has white ...

Re: Black and white swans mating: Color of the cygnets? -- The Regal Swan -- 25 August 2009

Hi Jenny: Rarely, does this type of mating occur and even rarer is the ability to produce viable offspring. However, we have seen this pairing intentionally conducted in a captive setting to ...

Why Mute Swans put a leg on their back? -- Gail -- 23 August 2009

When boating with friends on a huge river last week we saw mute swans. When faster boats made waves, I noticed some of the swans had a leg on their back. I said to my friends "They are resting ...

Re: Why Mute Swans put a leg on their back? -- The Regal Swan -- 24 August 2009

Hi Gail: Swans rest in this position. Some research also indicates that in time of hot weather, this may be a way that the bird dissipates heat from its system. The swan holds his web footing out ...

Fate of cygnet next year -- Pamela Allison -- 22 August 2009

There is a pair of swans in a pond in our community. The pond is about the size of a football field. This spring, the pair mated and only 2 eggs hatched, with one of the babies dying after 2 weeks. ...

Re: Fate of cygnet next year -- The Regal Swan -- 24 August 2009

Hi Pamela: Yes, the adults (parents) will actually begin to chase and try to get the cygnet removed from the pond prior to nesting season. Usually, this behavior occurs sometime after the 6-7th month ...

Swan Master? -- Mike G -- 18 August 2009

As you may remember, I posted a few questions about a year ago regarding fighting a swan ban in California by the F&G. We have been fighting but, as one would expect, to no avail. I have now applied ...

Re: Swan Master? -- The Regal Swan -- 18 August 2009

Hi Mike: Yes, the Fish & Game Commissions around the country are trying to keep the mute swan populations under control. Some of this control is needed because unscrupulous owners let the swans out ...

Do swans smile? -- Marc Balzac -- 13 August 2009

Our swans will spend up to two hours at a time cooling down in the shower in our 110 degree Palm Springs heat...Is it my imagination or is he smiling?

Re: Do swans smile? -- The Regal Swan -- 15 August 2009

Hi Marc: We're not sure that they have the complete facial muscles that humans have in emoting feelings. However, they certainly do have a different look in their eyes when they are feeding, bathing, ...

swan attack -- Cathy -- 13 August 2009

I live in a complex with a big lake, and every summer they put 2 swans in there, I guess because of their beauty and to keep the geese at a minimum. This year, one of the swans is a male and when you ...

Re: swan attack -- The Regal Swan -- 15 August 2009

Hi Cathy: All swans have individual personalities. Unfortunately, when swans act aggressively, they add to the myth that they are an overly aggressive bird. There are several possibilities that may ...

lost swans -- sarah Fotheringham -- 12 August 2009

I live by a river and have watched a pair of swans bring up two babies. However this morning I only saw one cygnet and the mother. I could not see the other cygnet. Tonight I only found the cygnet ...

Re: lost swans -- The Regal Swan -- 12 August 2009

Hi Sarah: Usually, if the parents want the cygnets to leave, all cygnets will hang out together, but the parents will still be in the area in case something happens. If the first cygnet was lost to a ...

Are swans afraid of thunder? Swan pond turned green -- Maria -- 10 August 2009

Are swans afraid of thunder and lightening? Also the pond up the road now has turned all green....is this alright for the one swan that has been there for years?

Re: Are swans afraid of thunder? Swan pond turned green -- The Regal Swan -- 10 August 2009

H Maria: We're not sure that the swans are afraid of lightning and thunder as they are on ponds and lakes throughout their lives in fair as well as inclement weather. This fact would seem to support ...

Added four, 2 month old's to two existing swans- Problem?? -- Kim -- 9 August 2009

I have a question, we have added 4 2 month old swans to our pomnd which already has two 7 month old's living. The two older ones are pecking at the babies necks and body. Does that mean that they are ...

Re: Added four, 2 month old -- The Regal Swan -- 9 August 2009

Hi Kim: We are constantly getting this question. 2 month old baby swans CANNOT PROTECT themselves. The birds are too young and too small and are easy targets for predators as well as larger and older ...

Sick Swan: Can't stand, skinny, white lice, pink wings and tail -- Martin Quinn -- 9 August 2009

Hi, Maybe you can help, I have a female swan on our lake she made a nest two months ago but we did not see any eges and now she has abandoned it but she is not in good condition she is very skinny ...

Re: Sick Swan -- The Regal Swan -- 9 August 2009

Hi Martin: We would get her to an avian veterinarian or swan rescue facility immediately. It sounds as if she lost at least 30% of her body weight sitting on the nest. This is normal, but she may ...

Is this bumblefoot? -- Marc Balzac -- 9 August 2009

Is this bumblefoot? Not sure how long this 20 year old black swan has had this foot injury as our man-made lake has a concrete curb that can make it difficult for our swans to exit. I have recently ...

Re: Is this bumblefoot? -- The Regal Swan -- 9 August 2009

Hi Marc: Yes, this is bumblefoot. There isn't a whole lot you can do for this condition except let it heal on itself. However, if it is an open wound, oozing and bleeding, you need to get him out of ...

Possible cyanobacterial contamination -- Fiona -- 6 August 2009

We had a record-breaking heatwave (just ended) and drought and now have what looks like a rapidly-spreading bloom of blue-green algae (water is deep turquoise and soupy) in the lagoon. I am very ...

Re: Possible cyanobacterial contamination -- The Regal Swan -- 8 August 2009

Hi Fional: I spoke with one of our swan veterinarians and he confirmed that this bacteria can pose a toxicity to wildlife, domestic animals and livestock. Whether this extends to avian populations, ...

How to befriend our new swans -- Caroine Christie -- 6 August 2009

We just got six 3 month old mute swans. They are happily swimming in our private lake, but I cannot get close to them to feed them. They ignore food on the grass beside the lake, and when I throw ...

Re: How to befriend our new swans -- The Regal Swan -- 6 August 2009

Hi Caroline: Are the cygnets from swans that were already on your pond or did you buy 6 cygnets? This is going to make a big difference regarding their acceptance of you. Three month old cygnets left ...

How to befriend our new swans -- Caroine Christie -- 7 August 2009

I think we solved the problem. The previous owner (we purchased the swans)fed them from a pan, so we put out two pans of feed at one end of the lake, where they seem to like to hang out. Then my ...

Re: How to befriend our new swans -- The Regal Swan -- 8 August 2009

Hi Caroline: Great news. Thanks for the update. Please let us know how the young birds progress. The Regal Swan

Where to buy swans in Wisconsin? -- Gary -- 3 August 2009

We are in Wisconsin. Where can we buy swans? Hatchlings would be fine.

Re: Where to buy swans in Wisconsin? -- The Regal Swan -- 3 August 2009

Hi Gary: We're not sure exactly where you can purchase swans in Wisconsin. The closest site we know is Knox Swans in Indiana. However, you should check with your state Fish & Game Commission as you ...

How to put new adult Mute Swans together -- Jim -- 31 July 2009

We have one adult Mute Swan on a 3 acre lake and have another adult we just got but have them seperate. We do not know the sex of either. How or what is the best way to try to get them to get along ...

Re: How to put new adult Mute Swans together -- The Regal Swan -- 1 August 2009

Hi Jim: The first thing you must do is get the swans sexed. If they are both females or males, there may be a fight in which one or both are injured or killed. If your older swan is a female, she may ...

Death of female mute swan - what will happen to the cygnets? -- Terry -- 23 July 2009

This morning the beautiful female mute swan living on our lake was found dead. We suspect she fell victim to one of the large snapping turtles that share the lake. She leaves behind her mate and ...

Re: Death of female mute swan - what will happen to the cygnets? -- The Regal Swan -- 24 July 2009

Hi Terry: Was there any visible trauma to the swan, i.e., neck or foot, leg, body injury? It is not likely a snapping turtle is going to kill a swan intentionally, but could snap at a leg or other ...

Re: Death of female mute swan - what will happen to the cygnets? -- Terry -- 24 July 2009

Thank you for your answer. Unfortunately, there was visible injury--she appeared to be decapitated. I don't know if this was because she was lingering too long with her neck under water, or if the ...

Re: Death of female mute swan - what will happen to the cygnets? -- The Regal Swan -- 24 July 2009

Hi Terry: Thanks for the update. Yes, it could have been a large snapping turtle, but in all probability, it was a larger predator such as coyote, fox, human, domestic dog, etc. Let us know how the ...

Minimum age of cygnet placed in a pound with male swan -- lisa sommer -- 22 July 2009

What is the recommended minimum age to place a cygnet in a pond with an unrelated male mute. Thanks

Re: Minimum age of cygnet placed in a pound with male swan -- The Regal Swan -- 22 July 2009

Hi Lisa: The answer would be NEVER. The male mute will kill the cygnet. Unless the male is a very young bird (under 1 year of age), you could not safely introduce the female until she is at least 1 ...

Lonely swan appeared on our pond: Temperament, gender, will it stay, will another join? -- Julie -- 20 July 2009

Over the weekend a swan just appeared on our small pond alone. I thought they mated for life. Is there any way to determine the gender of it? What temperment can we expect from it, as our son has a ...

Re: Lonely swan appeared on our pond: Temperament, gender, will it stay, will another join? -- The Regal Swan -- 20 July 2009

Hi Julie: The first question is can the bird fly? If it can fly, then this would be a viable answer of how it got to your pond. However, if it is pinioned or clipped and cannot fly, then someone ...

Re: Lonely swan appeared on our pond: Temperament, gender, will it stay, will another join? -- Julie -- 21 July 2009

Thank you so much for your quick response. The swan has a (orange beak) so I am guessing it is a mute swan. Any information you can give regarding it will be wonderful. I assume it can fly as no one ...

Re: Lonely swan appeared on our pond: Temperament, gender, will it stay, will another join? -- The Regal Swan -- 21 July 2009

Hi Julie: You are welcome. If the swan has an orange beak, then it is a Mute Swan. See if you can make the swan fly. If it flies and leaves the area, then no harm no foul. However, if the swan cannot ...

swan without mate -- kiley -- 19 July 2009

Hi, I was wondering how long a swan will survive without a mate. Our town swan, 'Sam', recently lost his mate, 'Betty'. How long will he survive without another mate?

Re: swan without mate -- The Regal Swan -- 19 July 2009

Hi Kiley: How old is the swan? How did his mate die? Most male swans will go through life single once their mate dies. If you choose to get him another mate, consider his age, if there is a ...

Where to buy swans in/near Michigan (to get rid of geese) -- Susan -- 17 July 2009

We are thinking about buying swans for our lakes and would like to know where to get them, we are in Howell Michigan and have 2 ponds and one small lake, so we would also like to know how many we ...

Re: Where to buy swans in/near Michigan (to get rid of geese) -- The Regal Swan -- 17 July 2009

Hi Susan: Before purchasing and importing the swans, you will need to check with your state Fish & Game Commission. Many states now require permits to have swans not native to the states. Also, ...

two males on a pond?? -- lisa sommer -- 16 July 2009

I have a question regarding two males on a 2 acre pond. We recently lost our female mute (natural causes) and have located another male within driving distance. My current male is very laid ...

Re: two males on a pond?? -- The Regal Swan -- 16 July 2009

Hi Lisa: This would not be a very good idea. The first male swan now knows this pond as his territory. Introducing another male will cause him to act aggressively. One or both birds may be seriously ...

Injured Mute Swan Cygnet (by a jet ski) -- Gracie C -- 14 July 2009

I live on a large recreational lake in North Webster, Indiana. Mute swans are not protected and may be killed in any way that makes a person feel superior!! Last evening at dusk a jet ski sought out ...

Re: Injured Mute Swan Cygnet (by a jet ski) -- The Regal Swan -- 14 July 2009

Hi Gracie: You need to immediately capture the cygnet and get it to a wildlife sanctuary or rehabilitation center. Without help, it will die and possibly, may still die from its injuries. It is not ...

Re: Injured Mute Swan Cygnet (by a jet ski) -- Gracie C -- 16 July 2009

Thank You!! I immediately got a big cage and captured the cygnet with a fishing net and got it into the cage. I gave it water and some green stuff I saw it eating out in the lake. Believe it or not ...

Re: Injured Mute Swan Cygnet (by a jet ski) -- The Regal Swan -- 16 July 2009

Hi Gracie: We could not agree more with you. Animal cruelty is on the rise, whether swans or other species and we do not have a judicial system that will stand up to the abusers and throw away the ...

Color of cygnet = sex of cygnet? Age of pinioning -- Catherine Wiles -- 13 July 2009

Does the coloration of mute swan cygnets indicate the sex? We have some white and some grey ones and I wondered which was which. Also, I understand that cygnets need to be pinioned at between 1-3 ...

Re: Color of cygnet = sex of cygnet? Age of pinioning -- The Regal Swan -- 13 July 2009

Hi Catherine: White mute cygnets are a leucistic coloring commonly called Polish Mutes by Swan Keepers. Taupe/grey colored mute cygnets are the normal coloring and known as Royal Mutes by Swan ...

Looking for a mate for a Whooper swan -- Lee McDonald -- 12 July 2009

A friend had a pair of swans on her pond, but one of the swans has died. It was a Whooper swan. We feel sorry for the remaining swan and are wondering if we should try to buy it a friend. Will it ...

Re: Looking for a mate for a Whooper swan -- The Regal Swan -- 13 July 2009

Hi Lee: Do you know how old the remaining swan is and how the other swan died? The worst case scenario would be that you go get another swan only to have the remaining swan die from old age or both ...

White Cygnets -- Holly -- 11 July 2009

I am based in the Uk and we have several pairs of wild mute swans on the river at the end of our farm. This year I have noticed one pair have two white cygnets- as white as their parents- with pink ...

Re: White Cygnets -- The Regal Swan -- 11 July 2009

Hi Holly: You are describing a leucistic (not alibino) coloring of the swans known as the Polish Mute swans which is very common. Royal Mute swans have taupe grey colored cygnets which have black ...

A what age can mute swans cygnets be removed from their parents? -- Catherine Wiles -- 8 July 2009

We have a pair of mute swans on our private lake which produced 8 babies at the end of April. Someone removed two of them last week and gave them to an individual to put on his own lake. We are all ...

Re: A what age can mute swans cygnets be removed from their parents? -- The Regal Swan -- 8 July 2009

Hi Catherine: Usually, the parents begin to chase the young birds between 5 .5 -7 months of age, although we have seen cygnets removed as early as 5 months and as late as 10 months. At 3 months, the ...

How to build a swan living space, safe from predators? -- Kathy -- 7 July 2009

We are in the process of aquiry 2 swans for our large pond. I would like to build them a safe place away from any predators, etc. What do I need and what type "house" should we build for ...

Re: How to build a swan living space, safe from predators? -- The Regal Swan -- 7 July 2009

Hi Kathy: Swans do not normally live in houses or any other such type enclosures. Usually swans reside on open water and banks surrounding the habitat. By sleeping on the open water, swans can ...

Swan behavior around jet skis -- Julie Hudson -- 6 July 2009

I live on a small lake in Michigan. We like to keep it quiet but we have a few people that run the jet skis. We have a swan family and every time the jet skiers drive their noisy machines the male ...

Re: Swan behavior around jet skis -- The Regal Swan -- 7 July 2009

Hi Julie: The swan does not like the noise and nuisance of the jet ski. Probably, at one time, someone decided to get too close and antagonize the swans with the jet ski. Eventually, something or ...

Cygnets are white and brown -- tamara -- 5 July 2009

We have a pond close by and noticed the cygnets this year are white and kind of brown. Why would that be?

Re: Cygnets are white and brown -- The Regal Swan -- 5 July 2009

Hi Tamara: We are assuming that you are referring to Mute Swan cygnets. First, the taxonomical species name is Mute Swan. However, swan keepers term cygnets that are taupe (brown) in color with dark ...

what happened to babies -- Barb -- 4 July 2009

What happened to the baby swan I did not see it the other day

Re: what happened to babies -- Fiona -- 5 July 2009

Dear Barb, I'm so sorry to have to report that all 3 cygnets have been lost. As you may have read from previous posting, the first baby hatched (Mama Swan's ivory cygnet) was injured when crossing ...

MUTE SWAN cygnets limping, can't walk -- JIM EFFTING -- 4 July 2009

I was looking to purchase some Cygnets and was informed that they are having difficulty walking or standing now. They seem to swim fine. Is this a diet issue with growth and developement? What can be ...

Re: MUTE SWAN cygnets limping, can -- The Regal Swan -- 4 July 2009

Hi Jim: There could be several explanations: 1. Dietary- Too much protein in the diet causing them to grow too quickly which will also promote the condition called "angel wing" or reverse ...

deformed cygnets -- Carole -- 2 July 2009

My husband and I were on vacation in NH and along the coast we saw a swan pair and two cygnets. However, we were shocked at the deformaties of the babies. What is wrong with them? Growing out of ...

Re: deformed cygnets -- The Regal Swan -- 3 July 2009

Hi Carole: Do not be alarmed, there was probably nothing wrong with the cygnets. Swans (adults and cygnets) place one leg on their back in a resting position throughout the day as they are on the ...

Androgynous Swan: What is it? Can it lay eggs? Why would a male swan chose the androgynous swan over a female? -- Raymond Clark -- 1 July 2009

Hi, I live in the small town of St Marys in Ontario. This year we have 3 swans. Two have paired off, the third a female is alone. The 'pair' of swans consists of a male and what town parks officials ...

Re: Androgynous Swan: What is it? Can it lay eggs? Why would a male swan chose the androgynous swan -- The Regal Swan -- 2 July 2009

Hi Raymond: We have no idea why anyone would call the swan "androgynous" because this term generally pertains to a living being (plant or animal) which has both male and female genitalia or other ...

Swan won't go back in the water after an oil spill -- Howard kroplick -- 30 June 2009

There is a swan who lives at the village lake in Roslyn, NY. About a month ago, there was an oil spill from a restaurant. The swan (about 40 pounds!) appears to have oil on its feathers. The swan ...

Swan needs to be taken to wildlife facility and bathed in Dawn Dish Soap -- The Regal Swan -- 1 July 2009

Hi Howard: You need to contact a wildlife/waterfowl rescue facility immediately and have the swan removed from the area and its feathers bathed in Dawn Dish Soap. If the swan has petroleum or food ...

How many Black Swans can live on a 1.5 acre lake? -- Ben Neal -- 29 June 2009

I live on a 1.5 acre lake that has a lot of waterfowl and we currently have 2 pair of black swans on it, both pair are male and female. 1 pair this year had 4 babies(3 now, 1 died) and the other pair ...

Re: How many Black Swans can live on a 1.5 acre lake? -- The Regal Swan -- 30 June 2009

Hi Ben: The pond could support a number of swans, but realistically, black swans are the most aggressive of the swan species, so problems will arise if you keep more than 2 pair of swans on this ...

Problem beak -- Marc Balzac -- 28 June 2009

Any idea on what is causing this beak problem? Poor guy lost his mate of 10 years to a coyote a few months ago and now this...

Re: Problem beak -- Dr. Christopher Brown -- 28 June 2009

The beak lesion resembles what a traumatic injury or puncture wound looks like. If the lesion grows larger or spreads to other areas of the beak or face, then I would be more suspicious of an ...

Additional questions: Will beak heal, is it a tumor? -- Marc Balzac -- 30 June 2009

Will the beak heal, and is the bump on the left side of his head look like a tumor?

Re: Additional questions: Will beak heal, is it a tumor? -- The Regal Swan -- 30 June 2009

Hi Marc: Thank you for the additional photos. We are forwarding them to Dr. Brown and Dr. Gardner and will await their replies. The Regal Swan

Re: Additional questions: Will beak heal, is it a tumor? -- Dr. Christopher Brown -- 2 July 2009

I'm not sure I know the answers to your questions. It looks like the beak is in the process of healing, but I did not realize before how extensive and numerous the lesions are. The swelling on the ...

Re: Additional questions: Will beak heal, is it a tumor? -- Marc Balzac -- 13 July 2009

We are lucky...his beak healed up nicely...thanks for the help.

Re: Additional questions: Will beak heal, is it a tumor? -- The Regal Swan -- 13 July 2009

Hi Marc: Great news. Thanks for the update. The Regal Swan

Re: Problem beak -- The Regal Swan -- 28 June 2009

Hi Marc: We are sending the photo to our veterinarians. Will get back to you. The Regal Swan

Feed watermelon to swans? How often to clip wings? -- Kim -- 25 June 2009

Can you give the swans fruit? (watermelon) I see that apple seeds are not good for them on a previous message. And how often do you have to clip their wings? We were given two black swans, which were ...

Re: Feed watermelon to swans? How often to clip wings? -- The Regal Swan -- 26 June 2009

Hi Kim: No, do not feed fruit of any kind to the swans. Swans are waterfowl and eat mainly grains, grasses and possibly fish or other aquatic larvae. You need to clip the feathers approximately every ...

Cygnet with abnomalities to head, neck and bill; cygnet remains small and does not eat much -- Fiona -- 25 June 2009

A Mute Swan cygnet hatched June 11 has several abnormalities that appear to be worsening with the passage of time. We haven’t seen anything like this before, and wonder if you have any idea what the ...

Re: Cygnet with abnomalities to head, neck and bill; cygnet remains small and does not eat much -- The Regal Swan -- 26 June 2009

Hi Fiona: We are going to send this to our veterinarians for a question and will get back to you as soon as we hear from them. It is quite possible that this may be a parasitic or genetic issue. The ...

Re: Cygnet with abnomalities to head, neck and bill; cygnet remains small and does not eat much -- Fiona -- 26 June 2009

Thank you very much for your reply. We appreciate your time and trouble - it's such a puzzle, as we've never seen anything like it.

Re: Cygnet with abnomalities to head, neck and bill; cygnet remains small and does not eat much -- danielle -- 26 June 2009

Hello, I am a frequent visitor of Lost Lagoon and I noticed that this cygnet has not been present lately. Today I saw who I assume are Tristan and Isolde (on the north side of the lagoon, just past ...

News about Papa/Mama's cygnet, and Tristan/Isolde's cygnet (on the pictures) -- Fiona -- 26 June 2009

Hello Danielle, I am so sorry to have to report that Mama Swan's cygnet was apparently injured when Mama took her across the road opposite the nest to graze and her leg was hurt late Sunday evening. ...

Re: Cygnet with abnomalities to head, neck and bill; cygnet remains small and does not eat much -- The Regal Swan -- 5 July 2009

Hi Fiona: Dr. Gardner looked at the photos as well as Dr. Brown. He is in agreement that this is congenital. The beak almost looks like it is twisted and does not sit under the top beak, which would ...

Re: Cygnet with abnomalities to head, neck and bill; cygnet remains small and does not eat much -- Fiona -- 7 July 2009

Thank you so very much for your time and trouble, and for providing an answer to something that was such a puzzle, as we'd not seen anything like it before. Your help was truly appreciated!

What kills the babies -- Bernice Taplitz -- 24 June 2009

We have same Papa & Mama swan in our small salt water lagoon for many years. I was thrilled when the showed up a couple of weeks ago with 6 beautiful babies. I took a number of great digital ...

Re: What kills the babies -- The Regal Swan -- 24 June 2009

Hi Bernice: Unfortunately, nature is not very kind to young species of any kind. It is truly survival of the fittest or we would be overrun with too many animals on the earth. Many species have a ...

Re: What kills the babies -- John -- 22 August 2009

we know large turtles will pull the young cygnets under on our Lake, but we have disagreement about whether the parents ever kill their young and only let the strongest survive?

Re: What kills the babies -- The Regal Swan -- 22 August 2009

Hi John: Good question. The reason that the swans may kill their young is not necessarily the survival of the fittest, but more to either put them out of their misery, keep predators from being ...

The parents appeared without cygnets this year: Why? -- J Green -- 20 June 2009

I have a cottage on a lake in Michigan. Last summer I had Mama and Daddy Swan with five cygnets (one of which was crippled and later disappeared). They first appeared in early July and visited us all ...

Re: The parents appeared without cygnets this year: Why? -- The Regal Swan -- 20 June 2009

Hi: If the cygnets are not in the immediate vicinity of the parents, then it usually means that the cygnets either did not survive long after hatching or the eggs never hatched. Sometimes, swans will ...

Swans on our pond: 3 unhatched eggs 2 weeks after first cygnet -- sheila dyer -- 19 June 2009

our village has a pair of swans one cygnet hatched 2 weeks ago but there are still 3 unhatched eggs is this normal?

Re: Swans on our pond: 3 unhatched eggs 2 weeks after first cygnet -- The Regal Swan -- 19 June 2009

HI Sheila: The mother swan will keep the young cygnet returning to the nest 2-3 weeks after hatching regardless if there are eggs in the nest. The mother knows best and will probably not try to hatch ...

Cygnet Attacked by Parents after Rehabilitation at Wildlife Center (Fishing Line) -- Jorie -- 19 June 2009

A couple of weeks ago, we rescued a cygnet that was caught in fishing line. It was tightly wrapped around its leg. Our local wildlife center rehabilitated it, and we released it back to its family ...

Re: Cygnet Attacked by Parents after Rehabilitation at Wildlife Center (Fishing Line) -- The Regal Swan -- 19 June 2009

Hi Jorie: If the cygnet was not returned to the parents in a timely fashion, within a few hours of separation (which would not be possible if it had to be rehabilitated), then the parents do not ...

Cygnet Update: Cygnet was found alive and was sent to a sanctuary -- Jorie -- 22 June 2009

Cygnet Update! Our cygnet was found a couple of days later on a neighbor's porch! It was a miracle! We rescued him and released him to a waterfowl sanctuary in Tiverton Rhode Island yesterday, where ...

Re: Cygnet Update: Cygnet was found alive and was sent to a sanctuary -- The Regal Swan -- 22 June 2009

Hi Jorie: Thanks for the update. Glad you could intervene and this story has a good ending. The Regal Swan

mute swans~why they stomp feet -- Tammy VB -- 18 June 2009

Hi, we have a pair of mute swans that visit our yard daily and on occasion we see the female do a little dance type move, she stomps her feet and stretches her neck real tall and shakes her head back ...

Re: mute swans~why they stomp feet -- The Regal Swan -- 19 June 2009

Hi Tammy: It sounds like the swan is stretching as she gets out of the water, but she may also be exhibiting a form of greeting as she comes up for food. The Regal Swan

What month do mute swan eggs hatch -- Leslie Ballard -- 17 June 2009

Hi, Do swan's eggs typically hatch during a certain month (i.e., is it late in the season now?) We have a pair of mute swans on our lake that have a nest opposite our home. We've seen the female on ...

Re: What month do mute swan eggs hatch -- The Regal Swan -- 17 June 2009

Hi Leslie: Typically, between March and June is the nesting period. The eggs will incubate for approximately 30-45 days from the time that the last egg was layed. If someone placed oil on the eggs, ...

How many swans can live together? -- Kaslx -- 16 June 2009

How many swans can live together? We have a pair that had 7 cygnets...can they all grow up and stay together.

Re: How many swans can live together? -- The Regal Swan -- 16 June 2009

Hi: This question has to be determined by the acreage of your pond and habitat. If you have less than 8 acres (and this is stretching it), your swans are going to become a nightmare. During nesting ...

What's the best way of making an island for the swans in the middle of a pond? -- Kim Wirtz -- 15 June 2009

We have a large pond. What would be the best way to make an island in the middle of the pond for them to nest and keep away from predators?

Nesting boxes. Dangers of bringing dirt to build an island (toxins) -- The Regal Swan -- 16 June 2009

Hi Kim: If your pond is already filled with water, this is not going to be an easy task as you will need to bring in a large amount of landfill (dirt) to build up the island. However, if you bring in ...

Photo of the pond. Styrofoam as nesting island? Shade on the nesting island? Shelter in winter? Protection against coyotes? -- Kim -- 16 June 2009

This is our pond. I heard from the person I received the Swans from that they like to be in the middle of the pond for nesting. I am scared that they will be bothered by Coyotes. I want them to be ...

Re: Photo of the pond. Styrofoam as nesting island? Shade on the nesting island? Shelter in winter? -- The Regal Swan -- 17 June 2009

Hi Kim: Nice photo. Styrofoam may not be stable, i.e., it can flip and wind may cause the nesting contents to be blown from the area. Additionally, the swans may peck and try to eat the styrofoam ...

Islandscapes for swans (sold at Walmart) -- Jennifer -- 23 June 2009

We use islandscapes, just google it and you'll find they are sold everywhere including walmart. Link to walmart site http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=1006047 They can put planted ...

Re: Islandscapes for swans (sold at Walmart) -- The Regal Swan -- 24 June 2009

Hi Jennifer: Great idea, just have a few questions. We have folks in Florida and the Southeast that would need something like this, but due to hurricanes and severe winds, the possibility of flipping ...

Mr. Swan sees his reflection in windows and bumpers, and pecks, pecks, pecks... and he crosses our busy street -- Terra -- 15 June 2009

Hi there. I live in Waterford, Michigan on a huge pond that is wetlands. We have an abundance of wildlife in our backyard including a set of swans who have been coming back every spring in the four ...

Re: Mr. Swan sees his reflection in windows and bumpers, and pecks, pecks, pecks... and he crosses o -- The Regal Swan -- 16 June 2009

Hi Terra: It is mating and nesting season. All birds are seeing their reflections in windows, bumpers, hubcaps, car mirrors, etc. If they have not mated, they are trying to woo the reflection because ...

We need a female black swan for lone male -- elizabeth Denike -- 13 June 2009

Hi, We had a male and female that layed 3 nests in one year. Mama broke her wing and after surjery, she died. Now we have only 1 male swan, and need to give him a mate. Can you help me find a female ...

Re: We need a female black swan for lone male -- The Regal Swan -- 14 June 2009

Hi Elizabeth: The closest swan breeder near you would be Howell's Exotic Waterfowl in Texas, or you can have one shipped from California at Jack Long's Waterfowl, or Knox Swans in Indiana. Hope this ...

Father swan tries to drown its own cygnet -- Brian -- 13 June 2009

This week I was watching a mom and dad swan and their 2 cygnets in the canal next to my folks home in Indian River Michigan. They have been there ever since the cygnets were born. My mom siad there ...

Re: Father swan tries to drown its own cygnet -- The Regal Swan -- 14 June 2009

Hi Brian: Unfortunately, swan parents will try to kill their own young if they know the cygnets are in distress or something is wrong with them. The male may have tried to get the cygnet out of the ...

Re: Father swan tries to drown its own cygnet -- Linda Miller -- 15 June 2009

Unfortunately, I too just witnessed this past weekend a pair of swans parents who drowned one on their cygnets. There were 6 cygnets and all were swimming and feeding with the parents when out of the ...

Re: Father swan tries to drown its own cygnet -- The Regal Swan -- 15 June 2009

Hi Linda: This is nature. It is better to kill something that may have something wrong with it than let it suffer. In addition, if the cygnet is ill or injured, predators will get it and possibly ...

Male or female swan? -- jamie bradley -- 13 June 2009

I have a swan and i don't know if it is a male or female. It is kinda short and his 1 leg is bowed, and he or she does not fly. can u tell me if it is a male or female

Re: Male or female swan? -- The Regal Swan -- 14 June 2009

Hi Jamie: Unfortunately, there is no real way of determining the gender of a swan unless a veterinarian physically exams the cloaca, conducts DNA Sequencing or you wait until nesting season to ...

Where'd The Eggs Go?? The nest is now empty with no trace of egg shells -- CD -- 12 June 2009

Where I work we have a huge pond that is home to fish, turtles, plenty of geese, and a swan pair. The pen has been nesting for weeks now and we just noticed that the nest is empty. Originally there ...

Re: Where -- The Regal Swan -- 12 June 2009

Hi: Predators could have gotten the eggs, i.e., raccoons, turtles, ect. More than likely, a human took the eggs either to start their own swan collection or thinking that removing them, they would ...

Meet Your Swan Specialist as she Talks to a Swan!! (video) -- The Regal Swan -- 11 June 2009

Every time I am down at Lake Eola, I talk to the swans and in particular the Whooper Swans. I call Whoop Whoop and they answer back. Well, I think it is mating season and this guy immediately came ...

Stranded swan? Mother and cygnet gone to area separated from the pound -- Nancy -- 11 June 2009

In a local pond there is a male and female swan with their young cygnet. The cygnet seemed to have gone over a small waterfall and the female joined him there in the shallow area. The area is ...

Re: Stranded swan? Mother and cygnet gone to area separated from the pound -- The Regal Swan -- 11 June 2009

Hi Nancy: Since the mother stayed and the cygnet found its way back to her, we would suggest that you not try to get them back to the pond. Mother knows best and she may know that the cygnet may go ...

Why the name "mute swans"? -- john lawler -- 10 June 2009

why are mute swans called mute swans

Re: Why the name "mute swans"? -- The Regal Swan -- 11 June 2009

Hi John: Great question. Actually the name "Mute" is a misnomer. The swans are not mute (i.e., deaf and cannot vocalize). However, in comparison with all other species, the Mute Swans are the least ...

caring for mute swan on illinois river -- Lucy -- 10 June 2009

We are not positive the swan cannot fly, but over the past 2 months, we have never seen him fly and neither have any of the neighbors who are also keeping an eye out for him. When we first saw him, ...

Re: caring for mute swan on illinois river -- The Regal Swan -- 10 June 2009

Hi Lucy: With the additional information you provided, we would surmise one of the following: 1. The swan got onto the wrong migratory path with a bunch of geese and since some geese remain, he/she ...

Can bread yeast kill cygnets? -- claire franklin -- 9 June 2009

We have the perfect pond, safe to stand and feed the ducks, swans and fish. This year the swan has raised 8 cygnets, as soon as they left the nest a sign went up saying we must not feed the swans as ...

Re: Can bread yeast kill cygnets? -- The Regal Swan -- 9 June 2009

Hi Claire: Either someone is extremely un-informed or is trying to scare people to not feed the birds bread, thus providing healthier food such as lettuce and a mixture of cracked corn and poultry ...

Winter care for a mute swan when river freezes over during many months. What type of shelter? -- Lucy -- 9 June 2009

Thank you for your help. What do we do if he is still there this winter? The Illinois River often freezes over for a good portion of the season. If they don't like a box with a lid, what other kind ...

Re: Winter care for a mute swan when river freezes over during many months. What type of shelter? -- The Regal Swan -- 9 June 2009

Hi Lucy: He will try to stay in the middle of the lake because of depthness of water and therefore, more heat. This is the wrong place because he can become trapped if the river freezes. You will ...

Swan likely unable to fly: How can we make him comfortable? -- Lucy -- 8 June 2009

We have a single mute swan, apparently a male as he apperas to be about 40 lbs, swimming in the river by our house. He willingly comes up to me when I call, and takes food from my hand, altho he will ...

Re: Swan likely unable to fly: How can we make him comfortable? -- The Regal Swan -- 8 June 2009

Hi Lucy: If he can't fly from the area, he needs some supplemental food. Most swans will not go into a box, especially if it has a top to it. Provide him with lettuce, some bread and a mixture of ...

Someone destroyed the swans and cygnets' nest - Can we help save the cygnets? -- lfl -- 7 June 2009

HI - the swans on our pond just had cygnets. The neighbor who had he nest on his property destroyed the nest. Is there any reason he would do this for the well being of the swans? Is there anything ...

Re: Someone destroyed the swans and cygnets -- The Regal Swan -- 7 June 2009

Hi: Not sure why someone would do this except maybe he thought that once the cygnets hatched, the swans do not need the nest. If the neighbor was tired of the nest, in some area that he needed to ...

Swan incubation period: Swan sitting on eggs for over a month -- Dana Flynn -- 5 June 2009

Hi - there is a white swan that has built a nest and has been sitting on her eggs for awhile. There are 4 eggs. Alot of swans on the lake have already had their babies. The male swan is never seen. I ...

Re: Swan incubation period: Swan sitting on eggs for over a month -- The Regal Swan -- 6 June 2009

Hi Dana: Yes, there is a possibility that the eggs may not hatch, but the mother swan will know if this is going to happen and will eventually leave the eggs. Incubation, depending on swan species, ...

Black Swans have made another nest and cygnet from first nest is left on his own -- Richard -- 5 June 2009

Hi Guys I am in the northern area of NC, I wrote you guys back in Feb. 5 a few times when my swans were nesting and it was 5 degrees a couple of weeks. Good news is I did end up with one Cygnet out ...

Re: Black Swans have made another nest and cygnet from first nest is left on his own -- The Regal Swan -- 5 June 2009

Hi Richard: Unfortunately, this whole scenario seems to be the norm this year instead of the exception. We are hearing about this behavior throughout the world. It may be that the winters were colder ...

Swan behavior: Two families of swans fighting over territory in a lake -- Cheryl Ferriero -- 4 June 2009

Will a swan family go to where a mating pair of swans has their nest and break it's unhatched eggs? The two males of each group have been fighting over territory in our lake. Last Thursday the male ...

Re: Swan behavior: Two families of swans fighting over territory in a lake -- The Regal Swan -- 5 June 2009

Hi Cheryl Yes, as disturbing as it is, nature is not the most forgiving. Swans will fight for territory, up until the death of the males and sometimes cygnets and females, but that is the way it is. ...

My son's swans: How to recognize whoopers from trumpeters and where to buy in Ohio -- Ralph P -- 3 June 2009

My son bought two pair of swans and I had a question. he bought a pair of whoopers and a pair of trumpeters. He can not remember which is which. The next question is which ever is the ones with the ...

Re: My son -- The Regal Swan -- 4 June 2009

Hi Ralph: If the bills are black, they are Trumpeters and if the bills are black and yellow, then the swans are Whoopers. There are two swan breeders that we think may be able to help you: Knox Swans ...

I want to buy a swan - Various questions about keeping swans -- Billy -- 2 June 2009

I am thinking about buying a swan or two from my neighbor who breeds swans. I have many questions. I am 13 years old. -What do swans eat? -How much does it cost to keep swans? -Do swans make good ...

Re: I want to buy a swan - Various questions about keeping swans -- The Regal Swan -- 3 June 2009

Hi Billy: We are numbering your questions so that we can provide you with specific answers: 1. Swans eat aquatic vegetation, grasses, cracked corn and layer pellets, bread, lettuce, and may eat some ...

Re: I want to buy a swan - Various questions about keeping swans -- Billy -- 4 June 2009

Thanks for all the information! I plan on getting a swan from my neighbor. Although I don't know the breed. All I know is they are big, white, and have orange on their beak. Big black feet. Some ...

Re: I want to buy a swan - Various questions about keeping swans -- The Regal Swan -- 4 June 2009

Hi Billy: The swan species you are describing is the Mute Swan. In some states, you must have a permit from your state Fish & Game Commission to possess these swans because they are listed as a ...

Unexplained death of a 2 week old baby swan: Heron? Ornamental corn? Parent? -- Pam A -- 2 June 2009

Two baby swans hatched at the pond near our house on 5/20. This morning (6/2), both babies were still swimming and eating with the parents. At lunch, I noticed only one baby. I found the other one ...

Re: Unexplained death of a 2 week old baby swan: Heron? Ornamental corn? Parent? -- The Regal Swan -- 2 June 2009

Hi Sandy: Without a necropsy (an autopsy for animals), we could only theorize how the young cygnet died. There are several possibilities: 1. The parent killed the bird by accidently stepping on it or ...

Re: Unexplained death of a 2 week old baby swan: Heron? Ornamental corn? Parent? -- Pam A -- 3 June 2009

We did have two nights of very cold temps, and heavy rains and a thunderstorm the night before the cygnet died. That seems like a very strong possibility. I also had noticed that the adults wouldn't ...

Re: Unexplained death of a 2 week old baby swan: Heron? Ornamental corn? Parent? -- The Regal Swan -- 4 June 2009

Hi Pam: Thanks for the update. If there was a severe thunderstorm in which the cygnet was completely drenched and could not get dry or warm in the low temperatures, it is likely that it possibly ...

Male swan killing the newborn cygnets (seen on web cam) -- sandy -- 2 June 2009

I have been watching a swan nest at htp://www.ustream.tv/channel/swans-nesting . This morning the egs hatched and the male started killing the babies. Why? He killed at least one and was attacking ...

Re: Male swan killing the newborn cygnets (seen on web cam) -- The Regal Swan -- 2 June 2009

Hi Sandy: Unfortunately, nature is very cruel, especially if an animal knows something is wrong with its young and they will not survive. Another possibility is that the male swan is a new parent and ...

How long will female sit on infertile eggs (concerns for her health). How to protect cygnets from snapping turtles -- Sandra -- 1 June 2009

Hello, can you please let me know about snapping turtles we have pet swans we live in Ontario on a large pond , the male swan is about 24 years old the female is alot younger 12 or so they have built ...

Re: How long will female sit on infertile eggs (concerns for her health). How to protect cygnets fro -- The Regal Swan -- 1 June 2009

Hi Sandra: Incubation usually lasts between 30-45 days from the date of the last egg being laid. Female swans will usually not sit on eggs that are infertile or have little chance of hatching. So, ...

Cob started whacking me when feeding the family! -- S Silverstein -- 29 May 2009

I've been feeding a pair of swans at the local park for over a year without incident, and they appreciated it during winter and have been very friendly. Recently the pair had six cygnets who are ...

Re: Cob started whacking me when feeding the family! -- The Regal Swan -- 30 May 2009

Hi: Actually, he thinks that you are the kidnapper of his cygnets and does not really care what you did to save them, you touched them. This is unacceptable behavior by any parent and he is trying to ...

Double Clutch: Will the parents drive the 7-week-old cygnet away when new eggs hatch? -- Jeanne Moore -- 29 May 2009

We have a pair of swans that hatched 3 eggs on April 9, 2009. The cygnets were pinioned, 2 were sold and the remaining cygnet left with his parents. In the past week the parents have laid 4 eggs and ...

Re: Double Clutch: Will the parents drive the 7-week-old cygnet away when new eggs hatch? -- The Regal Swan -- 29 May 2009

Hi Jeanne: We have seen this activity in several swan pairs, more in black swans vs mute swans, but it can happen in various species. Out of curiosity, what species of swans do you have? If the ...

Re: Double Clutch: Will the parents drive the 7-week-old cygnet away when new eggs hatch? -- Jeanne Moore -- 30 May 2009

The swans that have laid another clutch of eggs are Mute Swans. They had three cygnets hatch in April, two of the cygnets were removed five days later. We kept one cygnet so that the parents would ...

Re: Double Clutch: Will the parents drive the 7-week-old cygnet away when new eggs hatch? -- The Regal Swan -- 30 May 2009

Hi Jeanne: Thanks for the update. As long as the female is still sitting on the nest, she believes that the eggs are viable and she is the most important one in this equation. If she walks away, then ...

Injured cygnet taken to the vet for 5 days: Will its parents take it back? -- Jeanne Moore -- 9 June 2009

It's been over 10 days and the parents are still tolerating the cygnet on the lake. We are watching them closely and will move the cygnet to a secure area on a different lake if necessary. In the ...

Re: Injured cygnet taken to the vet for 5 days: Will its parents take it back? -- The Regal Swan -- 10 June 2009

Hi Jeanne: You might try to reintroduce the cygnet, but it probably is not going to work and you need to be ready to recapture and save from its parents. If the cygnet is too weak or the parents just ...

Why the injured cygnet was accepted by the parents after an absence of 6 days -- Jeanne Moore -- 15 June 2009

Update of 2 week old injured cygnet... Our vet advised us to tube feed the cygnet three or four times daily for three to five days or until he was able to eat on it's own. We tube fed the cygnet ...

Re: Why the injured cygnet was accepted by the parents after an absence of 6 days -- The Regal Swan -- 16 June 2009

Hi Jeanne: Good news. The poop theory was a good thought, but it is a wive's tale (actually mother's who don't want their kids to pick up birds) about birds smelling human scents. Birds don't have ...

"Sneaky" Male Swan engages in relationships with other female swans -- Elaine Angwin -- 29 May 2009

Dear SWAN SPECIALIST, Someone told me that a male swan is NOT AS FAITHFUL to his lifetime female partner as he appears to be. He is, actually, very sneaky in engaging in relationships with other ...

Re: "Sneaky" Male Swan engages in relationships with other female swans -- The Regal Swan -- 29 May 2009

Hi Elaine: This statement is not necessarily true. Most swans mate for life. This fidelity depends on several factors: individual swan, swan species and success of having cygnets and raising them to ...

Both swan parents kill cygnet -- Carla -- 28 May 2009

Today I came home and watched a monther swan push one of her babies out of the pond behind my house. I went over to see if it was okay and it was. By the time I got back to my house, both swan ...

Re: Both swan parents kill cygnet -- The Regal Swan -- 29 May 2009

Hi Carla: Nature is unfortunately cruel sometimes and survival of the fittest rules. Swan parents will kill a cygnet if they know something is wrong with the cygnet. There are several reasons for ...

Swan poop on my lawn - How to keep the swans away? -- Charlene Davis -- 28 May 2009

We have 9 swans on our lake and they like to lay in our yard. They make such a mess in the yard pooping. Is there anything I can put on the grass to keep them out of the yard. My lawn men don't want ...

Re: Swan poop on my lawn - How to keep the swans away? -- The Regal Swan -- 28 May 2009

Hi Charlene: At one time, we used to collect and compost the swan manure under the name L'essence of Swan. We stopped marketing the product because of lack of interest from the consumer standpoint ...

How to tell a Swan is pregnant, will lay eggs? -- Carol -- 28 May 2009

Hi, I have a pair of mute swans who are 4 years old. I'm thinking it's way too late in the season for the female to lay eggs, but they've recently made a beautiful nest. The female sits on the nest ...

Re: How to tell a Swan is pregnant, will lay eggs? -- The Regal Swan -- 28 May 2009

Hi Carol: There is no way to just look at a swan and determine if it is pregnant. We are still within the window of nesting season for the mute swans so the swan could still lay eggs. On another ...

Re: How to tell a Swan is pregnant, will lay eggs? -- Carol -- 28 May 2009

Well the swans were purchased a year ago from a man who sells them specifically to keep the geese away. A builder in a subdivision purchased them and asked that I take care of them. They've recently ...

Re: How to tell a Swan is pregnant, will lay eggs? -- The Regal Swan -- 29 May 2009

Hi Carol: Thanks for the photo. But, we still would not be able to predict pregnancy even with a photo. As for sexing, some swans weigh more and have larger features than other swans regardless of ...

Swan attack on a baby duck -- Carol -- 27 May 2009

Hello, I saw a male swan attack and kill a baby duck today, it surprised me as there was no threat to the baby swans at all. Please could you offer some explanation for this behaviour. Thankyou Carol

Re: Swan attack on a baby duck -- The Regal Swan -- 27 May 2009

Hi Carol: Unfortunately, this is something that is seen frequently in not only swans, but all forms of wildlife. Swans will attack babies that are not their own. Nature ensures that a particular ...

How long for a swan egg to hatch? -- Christopher -- 27 May 2009

I was just wondering if you know how long it takes a swan egg to hatch? Thanks, Christopher

Re: How long for a swan egg to hatch? -- The Regal Swan -- 27 May 2009

Hi Christopher: Usually, this depends on species, but incubation is 30-45 days from the day that the last egg was laid. The Regal Swan

Maximum number of cygnets. Father swan hates jet skis -- Bob -- 27 May 2009

I have a pair of mute swans that have produced 9 cygnets, how many can they have? I live on a large lake and the male spends a good amount of time chasing geese from the area. He is particularly ...

Re: Maximum number of cygnets. Father swan hates jet skis -- The Regal Swan -- 27 May 2009

Hi Bob: The largest known brood was 13 cygnets in England. Usually, they produce 1-10. The Regal Swan

Do swans lay eggs more than once a year? -- Becky Bohland -- 25 May 2009

The swans near us just had a family of 6 babies. Now I see one swan on the nest again while the other is with the young on another nest. Do they lay eggs more then once a year?

Re: Do swans lay eggs more than once a year? -- The Regal Swan -- 26 May 2009

Hi Becky: We're not sure what might be occurring. If the swans are mute swans, the female only lay eggs once a year. There is a possibility that the female is taking care of the cygnets while the ...

Color of swan babies: 3 gray and 3 white, same family -- Becky Bohland -- 24 May 2009

We have a family of swans near by and they had 6 babies. Three are gray and three are white. Why is there a difference in color?

Re: Color of swan babies: 3 gray and 3 white, same family -- The Regal Swan -- 24 May 2009

Hi Becky: Great Question. Before we give the answer, we need to give you a little history. Years ago (centuries), someone in Eastern Europe (Poland, Lithuania area) decided to see if they could breed ...

Swan breeder or rescue in northeast US? -- Karinne -- 23 May 2009

I suspect that swan breeders are not "certified" but is there a standard of quality by which they are assessed or is this mostly word of mouth? I have only found Granite State Farm in Northwood, NH ...

Re: Swan breeder or rescue in northeast US? -- The Regal Swan -- 23 May 2009

Hi Karinne: We're not sure that there is any certification, but some breeders belong to waterfowl or birding associations. You might try to contact a waterfowl breeding association in your area. Yes, ...

Re: Swan breeder or rescue in northeast US? -- lisa sommer -- 26 May 2009

Recent newspaper articles here in the state have declared that Maryland has destroyed 4000 swans in the last several months. We estimate there are approx 500 left on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. ...

Re: Swan breeder or rescue in northeast US? -- The Regal Swan -- 26 May 2009

Hi Lisa: Yes, it is a sad issue. The courts had gotten involved years ago with injunctions filed, but as in many cases, state fish & wildlife commissions have been given the authority to take care of ...

How to sex cygnets, removing cygnets from the parents, one cygnet close to Dad and 2 close to Mum -- sonia mesry -- 21 May 2009

HELLO ONCE AGAIN....HOPE ALL IS WELL WITH YOU AND YOUR SWANS IN FLA. I HAVE 3 1 MONTH OLD POLISH MUTE CYGNETS. HOW CAN I SEX THEM? DNA(BLOOD) OR FEATHERS? ALSO...I KNOW ALOT OF TIME YOU GUYS HAVE ...

Re: How to sex cygnets, removing cygnets from the parents, one cygnet close to Dad and 2 close to Mu -- The Regal Swan -- 21 May 2009

Hi Sonia: Is there a specific reason that you need to know the gender at this particular moment? If not, we would suggest that you wait until at least 6 months of age. You can take them to the ...

Where to buy swan ducklings in Ontario, Canada -- frank -- 20 May 2009

Hi Sir/Madam, I would like to know where can I buy a swan duckling in canada ontario? I love swan very much and I live right on the lake. So, I have a lot of space for them to run even fly. Thank ...

Re: Where to buy swan ducklings in Ontario, Canada -- The Regal Swan -- 21 May 2009

Hi Frank: We are not sure where you might purchase swan cygnets in Canada or if it is even legal. You may need a possession permit from your local government as well as a providence or federal permit ...

Signet color + reintroducing cygnets to parents after pinioning -- Benjamin -- 20 May 2009

We have just hatched 4 mute signets, the mother is english and the father is polish. 3 signets are gray and 1 is brown, we have not seen their feet. Does this mean anything? Also we plan to have the ...

Re: Signet color + reintroducing cygnets to parents after pinioning -- The Regal Swan -- 21 May 2009

Hi Benjamin: If they are a darker color, they are all probably royal mutes as opposed to polish mute cygnets which are white in color. This genetic coloring does not pose a danger to any of the swans ...

How to incubate mute swan eggs -- Kathy -- 20 May 2009

The eggs do not fit in our trays, can we lay them on their side & just rotate them daily?

Re: How to incubate mute swan eggs -- The Regal Swan -- 20 May 2009

Hi Kathy: The probability that you will successfully incubate the eggs to hatching are extremely slim. In all probability, you will get very rotten eggs which will explode and cause a major mess and ...

Swan Eggs: Need for fertilization -- Tamara Huseman -- 20 May 2009

Will a female swan lay eggs even if she does not have a mate? Does the male swan have to ferterlize the female swan to have fertil eggs?

Re: Swan Eggs: Need for fertilization -- The Regal Swan -- 20 May 2009

Hi Tamara: Sometimes female swans will lay eggs without a male swan. However, a male swan must fertilize the eggs prior to cygnets being produced. The Regal Swan

When to remove un-hatched eggs -- Benjamin -- 20 May 2009

Our nest has 6 eggs, 4 eggs hatched yesterday. How long should we wait to see if the other 2 eggs hatch before removing them from the nest? The 2 eggs left were not the first to be layed.

Re: When to remove un-hatched eggs -- The Regal Swan -- 20 May 2009

Hi Benjamin: The eggs should remain in the nest until at least 1 week after the other eggs have hatched. The mother swan will either abandon the eggs or pitch them from the nest if they are duds. The ...

How to feed rescued cygnet, how long to keep him? -- Charley Soukup -- 20 May 2009

While fisning an inland lake my son saw a flock of blackbirds swooping down and pecking at a very small cygnet - some patches of down already plucked from his head - so of course into the kayak with ...

Re: How to feed rescued cygnet, how long to keep him? -- The Regal Swan -- 20 May 2009

Hi Charley: Thank you for rescuing the little fellow. The good news is that it sounds you are taking great care of him, i.e., letting him swim in the daytime and bringing him in at night. If you did ...

Swans, eggs and foxes. Protect swans = Feed foxes? -- Beverley Bowes -- 19 May 2009

I live on a golf course and the swans have just hatched 6 eggs they are ok at the moment but how can we protect them from the foxes should we feed the foxes to keep their hunger at bay

Re: Swans, eggs and foxes. Protect swans = Feed foxes? -- The Regal Swan -- 19 May 2009

Hi Beverly: Feeding the foxes will only draw them to the area and increase the chances that they will get the eggs. Because we are not familiar with your laws regarding the protection of the mute ...

Will a swan who has lost its mate look for a new one? -- Cathy Thompson -- 18 May 2009

There used to be a pair of white swans on a pond at the local golf course, but the female was killed by a fox. There were eggs in the nest and the male swan has been seen still alive. Will he care ...

Re: Will a swan who has lost its mate look for a new one? -- The Regal Swan -- 18 May 2009

Hi Cathy: Incubation of the eggs is usually the female swan's task. Depending on the individual swan and species of swan, males may assist with the incubation but, only while the female is away from ...

female nesting without a mate. -- kelly -- 18 May 2009

My father came home last night to find his male swan had died. There are no signs of any attack, no blood or feathers. The female has been roosting for about two weeks now on eggs. We have built a ...

Re: female nesting without a mate. -- The Regal Swan -- 18 May 2009

Hi Kelly: We're sorry to hear about the male swan. Do you have any predators, i.e., coyotes, raccoons, etc.? If so, the fencing may not be able to help her if the predator can dig under or climb over ...

single swan nesting -- yc -- 17 May 2009

We have a single royal mute swan (mate died many years ago)that has been sitting on a nest for several weeks now. We cannot see if there are eggs and we have wisely left him/her alone. Why is he or ...

Re: single swan nesting -- The Regal Swan -- 17 May 2009

Hi: Thanks for the nice comments. Usually, the male is responsible for building the nest, but nature tells swans when it is nesting season, so the bird knows that it is supposed to have a nest and ...

Female & babies -- Susan Welch -- 17 May 2009

I have a small pond in back of my house. We live in Massachusetts. A pair of swans have been nesting there for the past two months. They now have 8 babies. Before they were hatched ( about 2-3 weeks ...

Re: Female & babies -- The Regal Swan -- 17 May 2009

Hi Susan: This is normal behavior. The male has done his job and now he will only be around to add some protection to the female and the cygnets. The female is responsible for the care of the young. ...

My pet swan flocky - Feeding bread -- pamela bolan -- 10 May 2009

i came to live on a canal boat,and made friends with 2 swans male and female,he hissed at me and displayed his wings at first,however,hes become a pet,he taps on my boat for food,hes very tame now ...

Re: My pet swan flocky - Feeding bread -- The Regal Swan -- 11 May 2009

Hi Pamela: We're not really sure what a tail wag in a swan means. Some researchers think that it is stress while others think that it is similar to a dog's wagging tail in that the swan is showing ...

Care of a Mother swan while nesting??? -- Mark -- 10 May 2009

I am aware of a swan nest...the eggs in years previous were taken by predators...this year to safe guard the eggs a fence has been put there t protect the egss!! The mother stays in the fenced in ...

Re: Care of a Mother swan while nesting??? -- The Regal Swan -- 10 May 2009

Hi Mark: The fenced in area needs to be half in the water and half on land surrounding the nest. The mother needs access to the water to bathe (cool off and generally stay clean), but more ...

Father swan kills white cygnet, chases mother -- Karen S -- 7 May 2009

A friend with a pair of white swans is very upset by the males behavior. The male is old (23 years), female is a new mate for about 3 years (old female had died). This year was this pair's first ...

Re: Father swan kills white cygnet, chases mother -- The Regal Swan -- 7 May 2009

Hi Karen: Unfortunately, swan parents, especially males will kill cygnets that are sick or that they perceive are different from the rest of the brood. Differences or illnesses can make the rest of ...

Please help - Found a swan egg and took it home -- Catie -- 7 May 2009

I found a swan egg that had been abandoned and i took it home to take care of it. the only thing is i do not know anything about swans except for what i have read which isnt that much at all! If you ...

Re: Please help - Found a swan egg and took it home -- The Regal Swan -- 7 May 2009

Hi Catie: The egg will explode in the house and will cause an unbelievable smell and mess. Pitch the egg into a pond so that when it does explode you are not attracting nuisance animals such as ...

incubation period -- Clare North -- 5 May 2009

Hi, I wanted to find out how long is the incubation period,from the time the eggs are layed, untill they hatch?? I live in Hemel Hempstead, where we have a swan who has made her nest wright by the ...

Re: incubation period -- The Regal Swan -- 5 May 2009

Hi Clare: Incubation usually is between 30-40 days from when the last egg was layed. If you know the date of the last egg, you can give or take a few days from the above average and you will see the ...

cygnet food @ 2 weeks old -- sonia mesry -- 4 May 2009

hello again! our 4 cygnets seem to be doing well! what do you recommend we feed them? i have been smashing mazuri waterfowl maintenance to small floating pieces. cracked corn and poultry layer ...

Re: cygnet food @ 2 weeks old -- The Regal Swan -- 4 May 2009

Hi Sonia: Yes, some research suggests that too much protein can cause angel wing or other abnormal growth anomalies. Therefore, we would suggest using only a mixture of cracked corn and poultry layer ...

baby swan behavior -- Estrella -- 3 May 2009

There is a pair of swans who recently had 7 babies. They have been together for days now and everything seems normal, until today, one of the babies started to swim in circles in the middle of the ...

Re: baby swan behavior -- The Regal Swan -- 3 May 2009

Hi Estrella: There may be something wrong with the cygnet. If so, the parents and the rest of the cygnets will shun him. If you can pick him up and get him to a veterinarian before a predator gets ...

need a male swan -- Anda Olsen -- 3 May 2009

We live on a 17+ acre flood control lake in North Georgia. NOT the mountains. There is a swan here that has been living/visiting off and on over a 5 year period according to the neighbors. She, Emma, ...

Re: need a male swan -- The Regal Swan -- 3 May 2009

Hi Anda: How do you know that the swan that is on the lake is a female? Did anyone take the swan to a veterinarian to have it sexed or have DNA Sequencing conducted? If not, then trying to get ...

swans keep wandering away -- amy short -- 3 May 2009

Hi once again. Hope you could help me put my mind at rest. My black swans are 3 years old. They have been on my pond for 1 year. They have been well taken care of. Once again, they have wandered up ...

Re: swans keep wandering away -- The Regal Swan -- 3 May 2009

Hi Amy: At three years of age, the swans are ready to mate, nest and start a family. You may provide food, but it may not be the ample aquatic vegetation that they require. If the geese are ...

aggressive swan -- Jessica -- 1 May 2009

Hi. i wrote to you a while ago about the black and white swans that i have.I have 4 swans total. I thought the one white swan and the one black swan were mating but no eggs yet and its been over a ...

Re: aggressive swan -- The Regal Swan -- 1 May 2009

Hi Jessica: The two new swans are probably the same gender as the old white swan and when you got them they were juveniles and it was not nesting season. Now, nesting season presents a whole new ...

Swan Feed -- Michele P. -- 30 April 2009

Wow your website is just what I have been looking for!! I reside on a lake located in the Jersey Pinelands, with one pair of mute swans. They are presently nesting. The male is quite busy patrolling, ...

Re: Swan Feed -- The Regal Swan -- 1 May 2009

Hi Michele: We do not supplement any wheat products. We use only lettuce, some bread and primarily the cracked corn and poultry layer pellets. We would suggest using the Blitz feeder (dog feeder) ...

Dad swan aggressive with newly pinioned cygnets. And mama swan stretching her neck into the air -- sonia mesry -- 29 April 2009

hello once again regal swan.... we have had 4 baby cygnets born here in atlanta, ga. so far everything is going well. we had them pinioned a couple of days ago.they are anywhere from 10-13 days old. ...

Re: Dad swan aggressive with newly pinioned cygnets. And mama swan stretching her neck into the air -- The Regal Swan -- 29 April 2009

Hi Sonia: We have seen this behavior in many swans. Some swans do not like having their cygnets out of their sight and once the cygnets are returned, the parents are not ready to accept that the ...

17 swans on 106 acre lake -- Stephen R Hillard -- 28 April 2009

We have lived on Little Wolf Lake in Jackson Count Michigan for 7 years. Each year the same pair (i think it is the same pair) have made a nest and produced 5 to 7 cygnets. The old cobb fiercly ...

Re: 17 swans on 106 acre lake -- The Regal Swan -- 28 April 2009

Hi Stephen: Yes, lake levels have a lot to do with the number of swans. If your lake is the only or only one of a few lakes with high waters, swans are looking for such areas during mating and ...

swan eggs put out of nest -- kimberly frost -- 27 April 2009

We have a nest with 5 eggs in Millersville University in PA. The parents are on an island in the pond. However, today 2 of the eggs are outside the nest. From post I have read, it appears that Mother ...

Re: swan eggs put out of nest -- The Regal Swan -- 28 April 2009

Hi Kimberly: Yes, mother knows best. She probably kicked them out of the nest. If they accidently rolled and they were within a short distance, she would have put them back in the nest. Swans lay ...

Re: swan eggs put out of nest -- kimberly frost -- 28 April 2009

link to pics, and you will see the 2 eggs. Sad, but at least we still have 3 more. Thank you so much for the reply. Hope you enjoy the pics. (Note from admin: See for example DSC_1283_45711 )

Reasons to remove the eggs and throw them into the lake (eggs explode) -- The Regal Swan -- 28 April 2009

Hi Kimberly: Great Photos! From the position of the eggs, two things happened. Something or someone removed the eggs from the nest and placed them in the position that they are now located or the ...

Odd behavior question - swan pecking at cars -- Wendy Gray -- 26 April 2009

Hi- I live in beach resort in NY and we have a town pond with a pair of nesting swans. I went there yesterday to take some pictures and the male was acting rather strange. He would go up to the ...

Re: Odd behavior question - swan pecking at cars -- The Regal Swan -- 26 April 2009

Hi Wendy: Mr. Swan is acting like a very territorial over protecting parent. His territory is anywhere in the vicinity of the nest and we have seen this type of behavior in many swans. Every once in ...

swan first aid -- Connie Erwig -- 24 April 2009

I have sought your advice on other occasions, and I have another question. I am a volunteer in our city caring for fifty swans. We had a male mute swan, Ozzie, that was attacked by a coyote last ...

Swan First Aid -- The Regal Swan -- 24 April 2009

Hi Connie: Your veterinarian would know best about the antibiotics and what can be used in most instances as well as items that she can prescribe or suggest for the first aid kit. We would recommend ...

Orlando Mayor Presents Prestigious Jefferson Award to Sheila Bolin, CEO Regal Swan Foundation -- The Regal Swan® Foundation, Inc -- 23 April 2009

April 23, 2009 For Immediate Release Contact: Shirley Bolin Tel: (407) 931-6838 Email: Bolin.S@att.net Orlando City Mayor Presents Prestigious Jefferson Award For Public Service to Sheila Bolin, CEO, ...

mute swan male -- candace -- 22 April 2009

I was wondering if anyone knew where I could get a mature male must swan? There is a female at our park and she has been alone for 6 years. Thanks

Re: mute swan male -- The Regal Swan -- 23 April 2009

Hi Candace: If the swan has been alone for 6 years, we would suggest that it might be left alone. There are no guarantees that the swan will accept a new swan on the pond. Also, how do you know that ...

egg incubation -- Candace -- 22 April 2009

I am getting ready to incubate a mute swan egg. I have read that the temp should be 99.5. I was wanting to know what the humidity should be? Also, when should it be raised and to what? Thanks

Re: egg incubation -- The Regal Swan -- 22 April 2009

Hi Candace: Although there is some research regarding artificial incubation, it is very limited and even professional breeders have difficulty. If you found the egg and the mother had abandoned it, ...

Swan eggs! -- LeHoux Family -- 22 April 2009

We have two swans at the pond near our house who have a nest. The eggs were laid 3Apr09, how long do they take to hatch and how many babies will there be?

Re: Swan eggs! -- The Regal Swan -- 22 April 2009

Hi Folks: The eggs take approximately 30-45 days to hatch from the date of the last egg being laid. Since we do not know how many eggs were laid, we cannot ascertain how many will hatch. However, it ...

Nesting swans from same cygnets -- Lynn Hackworth -- 21 April 2009

Will swans from the same fleet mate with each other and produce cygnets? Thanks for your website; very helpful. Lynn Hackworth

Re: Nesting swans from same cygnets -- The Regal Swan -- 21 April 2009

Hi Lynn: Yes, swans from the same nest, the same family (year or years apart) as well as swans in the immediate area can and will pair up to produce cygnets. Usually, the pairing is for life, but not ...

mute swans -- Liz Neisen -- 20 April 2009

We have just lost 2 mute swans to a preditor. They had a nest with 4 eggs which we brought into the house. We are not sure how old the eggs are, pprobably about 2 weeks. We are not sure how long the ...

Re: mute swans -- The Regal Swan -- 20 April 2009

Hi Liz: You are probably not going to be that successful in hatching and we would advise that novices not try to incubate. First, you have the possibility of the eggs getting too hot or not warm ...

Black & White swans breeding together! -- sally curran -- 20 April 2009

Hi there! I live in Milton Keynes in the UK, and go on regular long walks with my dogs, so I'm used to seeing all kinds of wildlife! but I THINK I may have come across something very unusual...a pair ...

Re: Black & White swans breeding together! -- The Regal Swan -- 20 April 2009

Hi Sally: We haven't seen the photo, but we can tell you that in nature, the chances of these species breeding would not be extremely high. Sometimes, a swan will mount another swan because it is a ...

2 pictures of the black & shite swans together -- Sally -- 22 April 2009

I am now happy to attach the photos of these two magnificent swans so you can see for yourself!!! Aren't they just beautiful?? I'm very excited to think that this is indeed something very unusual and ...

Re: 2 pictures of the black & shite swans together -- Candace -- 22 April 2009

If I didn't see it, I probably would not have believed it. I once remember hearing that it this happened, the eggs would be infertile. I could be wrong though. It will be interesting to see. Those ...

Re: 2 pictures of the black & shite swans together -- Sally -- 24 April 2009

Hi there! I know it really is remarkable! I couldn't believe what I was seeing! I didn't get too close to them as I have two dogs with me as well! so I kept at a safe distance! I just zoomed in with ...

Re: 2 pictures of the black & shite swans together -- The Regal Swan -- 24 April 2009

Hi Sally: Great. Please keep us updated. The Regal Swan

Re: 2 pictures of the black & shite swans together -- The Regal Swan -- 22 April 2009

Hi Sally: Yes, these photos are indeed special. We have not seen anything like this in a natural setting in the 10 years that we have been studying both black and mute swans. Do you have any idea if ...

Re: 2 pictures of the black & shite swans together -- sally curran -- 24 April 2009

Hi there! Thank You for your reply! I just knew that these two beautiful swans are something special! I'm not sure if they are the same gender or not! Most of the time they are both sharing the nest ...

Re: 2 pictures of the black & shite swans together -- Bob Williams -- 5 January 2010

I live in Warrenton, VA and my wife works with Dr. William Sladen at Airle and the Swan Research Project. They have a Black X Mute hybred in their group. Will try to get a picture for you.

Should we hatch an egg (cold) found in the park -- Michael -- 20 April 2009

Hi there... My mom found a swan egg in the park the other day, it was early in the morning and little birds were trying to break it. When she picked it up it wass ice cold and figured there was no ...

Re: Should we hatch an egg (cold) found in the park -- The Regal Swan -- 20 April 2009

Hi Michael: We would believe that the chances of incubation are slim to none. If the egg has been moved and rotated or jostled, the embryo can detach from the egg and that is even if the egg is ...

swans -- dg -- 20 April 2009

do you know of a location in kansas where swans can be purchased? Thanks

Re: swans -- The Regal Swan -- 20 April 2009

Hi dg: No we do not know of any breeder in Kansas. The closest would be Indiana at Knox Swans. The Regal Swan

obtaining a pair of swans for our small lake -- Kathleen Brennan -- 18 April 2009

My community is based around a small lake, really a large pond, that is under an acre. The local geese population has markedly increased over the last few years. One of the residents remembers that ...

Re: obtaining a pair of swans for our small lake -- The Regal Swan -- 19 April 2009

Hi Kathleen: The laws have changed in recent years regarding the importation, possession, maintenance and breeding of mute or black swans in various states. You must first check with your local fish ...

SWAN CYGNETS HATCHING TODAY -- SONIA MESRY -- 18 April 2009

DEAR REGAL SWAN PROJECT.....HELLO AGAIN! GOOD NEWS IS WE HAVE 3 CYGNETS ON A NEST THAT HAVE HATCHED. I LIVE IN ATLANTA, GA. WE ARE VERY EXCITED! MY QUESTIONS ARE WE ARE NOT SURE OF HOW OLD THE BABIES ...

Re: SWAN CYGNETS HATCHING TODAY -- The Regal Swan -- 19 April 2009

Hi Sonia: Do not disturb the nest. Mama knows best and since you don't know when they hatched, it is extremely important that the mother stays with the cygnets. If you disturb the nest, she could ...

Can swans eat brewery byproducts? -- Dawn -- 17 April 2009

Hi, We have a large nature area and ponds right next to a brewpub. The brewery puts out a LOT of mash (spent wheat, barley, malt, etc, depending on the kind of beer) and I'm wondering if we can feed ...

Re: Can swans eat brewery byproducts? -- The Regal Swan -- 18 April 2009

Hi Dawn: The fermented byproducts could possibly kill the swans. We would suggest not to place the swans in these areas. Swans need clean free-flowing (or use of an aerator) fresh water and aquatic ...

Swan on our pond this morning -- Connie -- 16 April 2009

This was on our 7 acre pond this morning, lots of cat tails around the pond, maybe it will stay??? I also have chickens so if it's still there when I get home from work, I'll throw some out for it. ...

Re: Swan on our pond this morning -- The Regal Swan -- 16 April 2009

Hi Connie: We can't tell from this angle the species. It actually looks like a juvenile swan with the bill not colored, so unless you can get a better close-up, we can't identify the species at this ...

IS IT HARD TO HATCH MUTE SWAN EGGS -- DEANNA -- 16 April 2009

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO TO HATCH SWAN EGGS? WHAT DO THEY EAT AND IS IT A CRIME IN NORTHERN NEW JERSEY TO DO SO?

Re: IS IT HARD TO HATCH MUTE SWAN EGGS -- The Regal Swan -- 16 April 2009

Hi Deanna: You will need to check with your local Fish & Game Commission. In most states, mute swans are deemed a feral exotic species and you have to have a license to possess, breed and maintain. ...

Black Swan Mating -- Dale Faith -- 13 April 2009

This is probably a dumb question. I am just getting involved with breeding the Black Swans. What about future breeding that occurs between male and females of the same brood, or will this happen?? ...

Re: Black Swan Mating -- The Regal Swan -- 14 April 2009

Hi Dale: Great question. Inbreeding can and will occur. That is why experienced breeders get several breeding pairs and temporarily mark the cygnets with colored bands. The bands can be removed once ...

Removed swan -- Jody Olson -- 12 April 2009

We have had to remove our 7 year old male Mute swan with pinioned wings to a smaller lake as a pair of wild swans came to our lake and have attempted to kill Mac. We are considering buying a female ...

Re: Removed swan -- The Regal Swan -- 13 April 2009

Hi Jody: Getting Mac a mate will help the situation because he will try to defend himself, his mate and his territory. However, you must slowly introduce the swans. If you get a female, she needs to ...

female swan on local fishing lake -- Laura Cowell -- 12 April 2009

Hi here, I'm not sure if you can help but, I went fishing with my partner earlier today, (we're regulars) and the resident swans where doing their usual stuff. Only Perky (the female and yes I have ...

Re: female swan on local fishing lake -- The Regal Swan -- 12 April 2009

Hi Laura: It could be that it is mating season and she is getting ready to lay eggs. However, she might be exhibiting gape worms or other problems with the shaking of her head. We're not sure that ...

Re: female swan on local fishing lake -- Laura Cowell -- 13 April 2009

Thanks for the advice. I'll keep an eye on her when i go up again, and in the mean time I'll contact the owner and let him know of the possible problem. Apparently they've been quite "active" if you ...

Bad location for cygnets to grow up -- Ian Morse -- 10 April 2009

Boyo and Girlie are a pair of swans we have looked after for five years. We build their nest feed then daily and have only reared one cygnet Bibie in all that time. It is a very bad area they have ...

Re: Bad location for cygnets to grow up -- The Regal Swan -- 10 April 2009

Hi Ian: Once the cygnets have hatched, you might try to capture the parents and cygnets and move them to a better area with less pollution. We know that swans are protected in England, so there may a ...

hi -- james -- 8 April 2009

hi i have fount a egg and i was just wondering how long they take 2 hatch . i think it could be a mute swan egg ,how do i take care of it .x

Egg found -- The Regal Swan -- 9 April 2009

Hi James: If you handled the egg and removed it from the nest, probably the egg is no good. Swans will leave infertile or bad eggs on the nest to rot. The best thing that you can do is to throw the ...

humane swan effort -- Michael Rosen -- 4 April 2009

I'm making a video related to urban class-based poverty. A young man we've raised, originally from public housing, is taking a college poetry class and studying with my wife, reading "Leda and the ...

Re: humane swan effort -- The Regal Swan -- 4 April 2009

Hi Michael: If you want to immediately show the young man a video, go to our website (www.theregalswan.com). We have video showcasing several species of swans. Swans cannot be domesticated like a ...

Feeding swans -- Nic -- 4 April 2009

How harmful is it to feed swans bread? I feed them bread with grains, etc in it. I see people feeding them mouldy bread, something I would never do, can that make them sick? We have one breeding pair ...

Re: Feeding swans -- The Regal Swan -- 4 April 2009

Hi Nic: Bread is not the greatest food source, but one that most people feed the swans and now they have been accustomed to this treat. Grained breads are better. Moldy bread should never be given to ...

Re: Feeding swans -- Nic -- 10 April 2009

Thanks for the info, I don't feed them a lot of bread, and will try and find the cracked corn and poultry pellets and will feed them lettuce. I think the Whooper swan (I called him Satchmo, as he ...

Re: Feeding swans -- The Regal Swan -- 10 April 2009

Hi Nic: You are welcome. Thanks for the update. Good luck. The Regal Swan

Re: Feeding swans -- Nic -- 24 April 2009

Well, I tried feeding them lettuce, one nibbled at it,but they didn't seem interested. I'll try lettuce again when the new cygnets come along in the next month and see if I can get them used to it, I ...

Re: Feeding swans -- The Regal Swan -- 24 April 2009

Hi Nic: Yes, lettuce is an acquired taste for many birds, but they should eventually get used to it. If you cannot find the poultry pellets at a pet store, try a local feed store. Good luck. The ...

Re: Feeding swans -- Nic -- 18 June 2009

I thought you might like to know that the breeding pair of Mute Swans here in Waterford, Ireland (I see someone posted from Waterford,Michigan!) had 7 cygnets this year. I first spotted them on the ...

Re: Feeding swans -- The Regal Swan -- 18 June 2009

Hi Nic: Thanks for the update. The Regal Swan

Nesting times -- Paula Wilson -- 2 April 2009

I live near a nature reserve and have just noticed that a swan is nesting what way would i be able to feed it would that be through its mate and what food would be best as im interested in watching ...

Re: Nesting times -- The Regal Swan -- 2 April 2009

Hi Paula: The best thing would be not to feed the birds as this can also attract other predators to the nesting area (i.e., raccoons, ants, rats, etc.). Since this is a nature reserve and the swans ...

Bubblefoot? -- Jessica -- 2 April 2009

In a previous post, you had mentioned something about bubblefoot. In picture below you can see the swans feet do they look ok? And also do you think the white one looks pregnant? Thank you again for ...

Re: Bubblefoot? -- The Regal Swan -- 2 April 2009

Hi Jessica: We cannot see the bumblefoot from this angle of the feet. Usually, bumblefoot manifests itself as a large bump/growth on the bottom of the foot where the toes merge. It may be bleeding, ...

Double swan nest -- Tony Seddon -- 2 April 2009

Hi can anyone tell me whats going on in the lake in front of my house. I have been watching a pair of swans for a number of weeks build two nests about 3 foot apart, one seems to have 3 eggs in but ...

Re: Double swan nest -- The Regal Swan -- 2 April 2009

Hi Tony: We are not exactly sure what may be occurring, but there are a couple of possibilities. 1. The eggs are not viable and the swans are making a new nest for more eggs. 2. The swans are both ...

White Swan -- Linda Cowen -- 1 April 2009

3 days ago we pleasantly awoke to find a beautiful white swan in our lake behind our condo in Davie Fl. Can we expect him to stay or is there anything we can do to encourage him to stay. We are truly ...

Re: White Swan -- The Regal Swan -- 1 April 2009

Hi Linda: The new swan is probably from someone's personal collection and was not pinioned or clipped (against state law) and allowed to fly away. You can probably encourage him to stay by offering ...

Found Mute Swan egg? -- Lucinda -- 31 March 2009

Hi - this morning my husband found what we think is a mute swan egg on our front walk. We live in Northern NJ on a small lake with a pair of swans. The egg is approx. 3-4" long and 2 - 2.5" wide. and ...

Re: Found Mute Swan egg? -- The Regal Swan -- 1 April 2009

Hi Lucinda: No need to call anyone. The egg is not viable if the mother is not sitting on it. The best thing you can do is to get it out of your house immediately and throw the egg into the center of ...

Wandering Swans -- amy short -- 30 March 2009

Well, I had 2 black swans. Today I came home from work and found my swans missing. Needless to say, I feared the worst. There is a large lake north of me about 1/4 mile. My friend and I found Buck ...

Re: Wandering Swans -- The Regal Swan -- 30 March 2009

Hi Amy: Are the swans pinioned or clipped (unable to fly)? Could they have walked to the lake or were they chased or picked-up by someone? Is there a way to close down their exit from the lake, i.e., ...

Mating Season.... -- Jessica -- 30 March 2009

Hi,i live in Ohio. I was wondering when is mating season for white swans and also for black swans(if it is different)? I have 2 white swans and 2 black swans and have been noticing that they are ...

Re: Mating Season.... -- The Regal Swan -- 30 March 2009

Hi Jessica: All swans mate throughout the year as a bonding process. However, to produce a clutch of eggs, Mute Swans mate in March/April while Black Swans produce a clutch of eggs in January and in ...

Re: Mating Season.... -- Jessica -- 2 April 2009

Hi i tried to find a picture of a blute swan and had no luck can you please post a picture of what a blute swan looks like?

Re: Mating Season.... -- The Regal Swan -- 2 April 2009

Hi Jessica: We saw a blute swan at the Airlee Center in Warrenton, Virginia. Dr. Bill Sladen had the blutes in captivity. We do not have a photo, but can say they are definitely not a beautiful swan! ...

Black Swans -- Sharon Bury -- 25 March 2009

Is it true that Black Swans have been used to eliminate geese habitation? Our condo community is overrun with geese and if this is an option, we would like to pursue it. Out community sits on a ...

Bringing swans to a new habitat: What is involved -- The Regal Swan -- 26 March 2009

Hi Sharon: Some folks swear by the use of swans to eliminate geese, while others have very little success. Most sites with geese problems use the Mute Swans. The Black Swans are the most aggressive ...

older swan attacking year old swan -- Lilian -- 24 March 2009

Hello. I work on a small acreage that has 2 male swans on it. We've had to separate the 2 because one keeps attacking the other. Last fall we were given a third male swan who was born in 2008. The ...

Re: older swan attacking year old swan -- The Regal Swan -- 25 March 2009

Hi Lilian: It would probably be best to separate all males. Unless they were raised in the same clutch and/or about the same age (within a week or so of each other), this behavior may continue until ...

decapitated swans -- andrea -- 24 March 2009

My friend has told me of a spate of recent incidents involving swans that have been found decapitated and rather extensively drained of blood. Someone in the area has attributed this to owls. Any ...

Re: decapitated swans -- The Regal Swan -- 24 March 2009

Hi Andrea: This situation could be caused by any number of predators. It is highly unlikely that an owl, eagle, hawk would go after a large swan, a cygnet maybe, but not an adult. The Regal Swan's ...

Re: decapitated swans -- Jennifer -- 28 March 2009

Sounds like a classic Racoon attack.

Need Help -- The Regal Swan -- 22 March 2009

Hi Everyone: For the past 10 years, the Regal Swan research and educational staff have been consulting with veterinarians and swan keepers/owners worldwide. In 2008, we became a non-profit (501) c 3 ...

Roaming swans -- Heather Wogoman -- 18 March 2009

We live in Indiana. We have two swans in our pond. Our pond is about an acre in size, it is stocked, and has an island in the middle. We have 6 ponds in the area that are about 300 feet from each ...

Re: Roaming swans -- The Regal Swan -- 18 March 2009

Hi Heather: Good photo. There are several possibilities of what is occurring. Your swans may be "migrating" to a nesting station. Your pond may not have a food source or suitable nesting site (too ...

Floating Nests for Swans -- john schultz -- 17 March 2009

I have a question about the design of floating nests for swans. There are a number of areas on the north shore of Lake Ontario, Toronto area, that have many Canada Geese as summer visitors. They are ...

Re: Floating Nests for Swans -- The Regal Swan -- 17 March 2009

Hi John: We have not had much success with floating nests. Just because they are placed in an area, does not necessarily mean that the swans will use them. Extreme weather conditions, (i.e., ...

Where can I find Knox Swans? -- Doug -- 6 July 2009

Where in Indiana is this Knox Swans, and how do I contact them? I am looking for a pair of swans for a relative.

Re: Where can I find Knox Swans? -- The Regal Swan -- 6 July 2009

Hi Doug: We deal with Bob at Knox Swans via phone and internet. If you google Knox Swans, the contact information including species and other pertinent information can be found on their website. The ...

Re: Floating Nests for Swans -- jennifer -- 28 March 2009

We have installed the floating islands, now becoming popular under the name "islandscapes" for several of our clients who have swans. One place is a shopping center and while the swans havent nested ...

Re: Floating Nests for Swans -- John Schultz -- 29 March 2009

Thanks for your reply. The harbour in Whitby has an area about 1/2 mile long by about 1/4 mile wide. There is a marina along one shore and our yacht club along the other. The end of the harbour is ...

fighting and mating behaviour -- Lou -- 14 March 2009

Dear Regal Swan folks, I have many questions about swan behaviour and I hope that you can help. For several years I have been watching a pair of swans that live quite near my house in downtown ...

Re: fighting and mating behaviour -- The Regal Swan -- 15 March 2009

Hi Lou: Males will chase and fight with males during nesting season as well as females fighting with other females. However, it is highly unlikely that a female will get involved with two males in a ...

Swans vs. Golfers -- joanne alexander-horne -- 12 March 2009

I live in an area where people are not particularly animal friendly, unfortunately. The question posed to me was this: 'what can we do to stop the swan chasing us while we play golf? I would suggest ...

Re: Swans vs. Golfers -- The Regal Swan -- 13 March 2009

Hi Joanne: Yes, chasing anyone or anything at this time is normal behavior. 300 feet of clearance is a good start. Where is the swan's nest or territory in location to the golfers? If the nesting ...

Lone Male Swan -- Hannah -- 12 March 2009

Hi, I live in rural Lincolnshire in England and am lucky enough to have a lone swan that lives on the stream in my back garden. I was introduced to him by the neighbours as 'Jack' and I understand he ...

Re: Lone Male Swan -- The Regal Swan -- 12 March 2009

Hi Hannah: Yes, this is normal behavior. The male mute swan typically is responsible for starting the nest and then the female will assist in further nest enhancements, i.e., height and width. Since ...

Swans leaving pond... -- Jessica -- 12 March 2009

Hi I have 4 swans that live in our pond which is about 60 x 220. I also live in Ohio by the way. My question to you The swans keep walking out of the pond into the neighbors yard to eat grass and ...

Re: Swans leaving pond... -- The Regal Swan -- 12 March 2009

Hi Jessica: Some folks have no luck with floating islands, others swear by them. We have had very little success. The first problem is how to anchor the island in the lake if you have a very deep ...

Re: Swans leaving pond... -- jessica -- 13 March 2009

Thank you sooooo much for the info. I tried to find the picture of the pen and had no luck can you please be more specific where to find the picture. Thanks again.

Picture of a pen -- Admin -- 13 March 2009

Please try the link below; you will find the picture of the pen at the bottom of the page called "Mute Swan Problems".

Re: Picture of a pen -- The Regal Swan -- 15 March 2009

Hi Jessica You are welcome any time. Yes, that is the photo for the pen that I was thinking about. The Regal Swan

Re: Picture of a pen -- Jessica -- 30 March 2009

Thank you so much for posting the link. I can't build a pen like that for the swans due to the fact that my pond has rocks all around it. I'm hoping to post pictures soon of the pond and swans to see ...

Re: Picture of a pen -- The Regal Swan -- 30 March 2009

Hi Jessica: Yes, please send us a photo. Rocks and concrete substrates can injure a swan's foot causing a condition known as bumblefoot. So, it is going to be imperative that an area free from rocks ...

Pictures of our pond - How to build a nesting area/pen -- Jessica -- 2 April 2009

I have been talking to you about my pond and how it has rocks surrounding the whole pond and how I would like an idea from you as to what I could build or purchase for the swans to have a pen/nesting ...

Re: Pictures of our pond - How to build a nesting area/pen -- The Regal Swan -- 2 April 2009

Hi Jessica: Great photos. We can't tell how the swans are getting to the feeder or on top of the concrete slab. Are they walking on the rocks? If so, this is not good. The feeders should be placed in ...

Swans along the Thames -- Claudia Hirsch -- 12 March 2009

Greetings, I was wondering if you knew of a place I could contact in England to find out where there are alot of muted swans along the Thames. Thank you, Claudia

Re: Swans along the Thames -- The Regal Swan -- 12 March 2009

Hi Claudia: Please contact Kay or Wendy at the Swan Lifeline Rescue Facility in Eton, England. They will be able to help you. Please google Swan Lifeline Rescue Facility for their contact ...

swan sitting on side of road -- Stella Ouellette -- 11 March 2009

I was driving at 9:30 tonight March 11, 2009 in a city in Massachusetts. There was a swan sitting on the side of the road. It didn't move when I drove by except it's head looking at my car while I ...

Re: swan sitting on side of road -- The Regal Swan -- 12 March 2009

Hi Stella: There are several reasons that the swan was near the road. 1. It may have been hit by a car. If this is the case, and you find the bird again in the same position this morning, you should ...

swan wing positioning -- James ORear -- 11 March 2009

Fantastic board you have here! I have photographed mute swans on a number of occasions holding their wings in a somewhat heart-shaped position when seen from the front/back. Is this a sign that the ...

Re: swan wing positioning -- The Regal Swan -- 12 March 2009

Hi James: Great photo. The wings are in a defensive guard position. During this time of the year, mating and nesting occur. So, males swans are becoming extremely defensive of their territory. People ...

Re: swan wing positioning -- James ORear -- 12 March 2009

Thanks for the compliment and thanks even more for the info. I'll make sure to include this in my captions as I think a photo becomes much more when you can learn just a little from it. James

Re: swan wing positioning -- The Regal Swan -- 12 March 2009

Hi James: Thanks. If you need further information for photographs, please do not hesitate to contact us. The Regal Swan

swan mate -- ed thomas -- 5 March 2009

what age do mute swans mate thank you ed

Re: swan mate -- The Regal Swan -- 5 March 2009

Hi Ed: Great question. Depending on the individual birds as well as species, mating can begin as early a 1 1/2 years of age or as late as 3 years of age. The Regal Swan

general questions -- Pat -- 3 March 2009

Hi again! I have a few more questions that I hope you won't mind answering: 1. Is it possible to estimate the age of a swan by appearance? 2. What is the difference between poulty pellets and poultry ...

Re: general questions -- The Regal Swan -- 4 March 2009

Hi Pat: Great questions: 1. You cannot estimate a swan's age by appearance. Records and observations of when the bird was hatched and copious record keeping is the only way to determine age. 2. Some ...

Re: general questions -- Pat -- 6 March 2009

Thank you so much for the information. I'm headed to the lake tonight, and I truly hope I see Bella doing well! I'm sure repetitive questions get "old," but I am in need of clarification, please, on ...

Re: general questions -- The Regal Swan -- 6 March 2009

Hi Pat: Our apologies! We were thinking of another website (Stromberg's) which has a photo of the Blitz feeder. http://www.strombergschickens.com/ The feeder is placed in approximately 3 feet of ...

Re: general questions -- Pat -- 20 April 2009

Hello again, I'm so happy to tell you that not only did Bella appear this past weekend (after quite a long absence), she was accompanied by Carl, and the two were definitely enjoying each others' ...

Re: general questions -- The Regal Swan -- 20 April 2009

Hi Pat: Thanks for the update. We hope that they will begin mating and have cygnets this year. Let us know. Thanks. The Regal Swan

Behavior of male swan: From amorous to aggressor -- Pat -- 3 May 2009

Hello yet again; I'm back with additional mating questions, please: OK, so now I'm really confused! Carl and Bella were quite amorous two weekends ago, but since then, Carl won't allow her in the ...

Re: Behavior of male swan: From amorous to aggressor -- The Regal Swan -- 4 May 2009

Hi Pat: This is not normal behavior between a male and female swan. However, this behavior would be considered within the realm of normal if both swans are of the same gender. This whole scenario ...

Swans in snowstorms -- Pam -- 2 March 2009

I live in Brick , New Jersey on the Metedeconk River,,,,,across the river from my house is a section of protected marshlands,,,,,,there are two swans who swim the river winter and summer. I am ...

Re: Swans in snowstorms -- The Regal Swan -- 2 March 2009

Hi Pam: Swans have a large number of feathers, including down feathers which protect them from even sub-freezing temperatures. The water temperature is usually warmer than the surrounding temperature ...

Ball on bottom of swans foot -- Tom -- 2 March 2009

Hi , I have a pair of mute swans that are 4 years old. They are getting ready to nest for the second time ,& they seem to be doing great. My concern is the female has a large lump on the bottom of ...

Re: Ball on bottom of swans foot -- The Regal Swan -- 2 March 2009

Hi Tom: It sounds like bumblefoot. If the "bump" is open and oozing or the swan is having great difficulty in walking on land, a veterinarian with experience in waterfowl should be contacted. If the ...

How to adopt or purchase swans -- Theresa -- 28 February 2009

Hi, I was wondering if you could please help me to find some swans I have 5 acres of water 20 acres of land have had no luck in 3 years found a person in Saline Michigan but she said she would have ...

Re: How to adopt or purchase swans -- The Regal Swan -- 1 March 2009

Hi Theresa: Your location is ideal for purchase of swans. The DNR of Maryland has been trying to cull Mute Swans for years from the Chesapeake Bay area for years. Go online to Save Our Swans as this ...

Re: How to adopt or purchase swans -- amy short -- 1 March 2009

Theresa, One source is Eggbid.com and probably a better source is McMurray Hatchery. They have pairs listed. Before you receive these birds, you must have a pen established so that they become ...

Re: How to adopt or purchase swans -- lisa sommer -- 3 March 2009

Amy, I got my swans from www.creeksidebirds.com Jack Long the breeder is a class act...had mine flown to the east coast via United States Post Office..and they tolerated it very well Good Luck

relocating swan -- Diane -- 23 February 2009

Hi I am hoping to relocate a pair of mute swans to a golf course that will care for them. I am part of an "association" of 7 houses and I have been the sole caretaker every winter (because no one ...

Re: relocating swan -- The Regal Swan -- 23 February 2009

Hi Diane: Try a local wildlife rehabilitation center to see if they know of anyone wanting a pair of swans. You might also inquire at Knox Swans in Indiana. They specifically raise and sell swans to ...

Re: relocating swan -- Diane -- 24 February 2009

Thanks for replying so quickly. However, what I need is information on how to safely capture the pair. I have a golf course (that has 9 ponds and a few other pairs and take excellent care of them). ...

Re: relocating swan -- The Regal Swan -- 24 February 2009

Hi Diane: 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 ...

Swan - neck feathers -- Dan Follis -- 20 February 2009

My pair of swans are missing their neck feathers near the top and backs of their necks. This just recently ocurred. We do have lots of Canadian geese that have just arrived at the lake. Could this be ...

Re: Swan - neck feathers -- The Regal Swan -- 21 February 2009

Hi Dan: It could be any of the above. The Canada geese probably have nothing to do with this phenomenon because we are seeing it in one of our swans and we have no geese. We are not exactly sure ...

Can discoloration of the beak indicate illness? -- Angie -- 19 February 2009

We live on a large lake in the midwest, populated by hundreds of homes. There is a single [mute?] swan (with no banding) that has been living on this lake for the past 8 years. Sometimes we see her ...

Re: Can discoloration of the beak indicate illness? -- The Regal Swan -- 19 February 2009

Hi Angie: The unusual behavior is more likely an indicator that something is wrong vs a light colored beak. If you can catch her and transport her to a veterinarian with avian experience, that would ...

purchasing mute swans -- david -- 19 February 2009

We live in a country club setting and recently lost a swan to a golf ball. we have received permission to purchase a male and female mute swan. what is the best age, what do you do to try and keep ...

Re: purchasing mute swans -- The Regal Swan -- 19 February 2009

Hi David: The best age would be around 1 year of age so that the pair can bond. However, if you do not want to worry about cygnets (because you will be responsible for pinioning and finding a new ...

Female swan killed by coyote,how to handle the male swan they were together for 11 years -- Evelyn Seville -- 18 February 2009

Napoleon and Josephine together 11 years. Female killed by coyote, how do we handle remaining spouse. Please advise

Re: Female swan killed by coyote,how to handle the male swan they were together for 11 years -- The Regal Swan -- 18 February 2009

Hi Evelyn: Sorry to hear about your loss. The most important consideration is to protect the male so that he does not face the same fate. Did the male swan see the female killed? If so, he obviously ...

Romeo and Juliette -- Teresa -- 18 February 2009

Thanks for the information. They seemed to be a little better together yesterday. We had brought some dried leaves and small twigs and a little bit of straw and sprinkled it around in the area where ...

Re: Romeo and Juliette -- The Regal Swan -- 18 February 2009

Hi Teresa: Great news. Thanks for the update and the kind thoughts. The Regal Swan

Romeo and Juliette (male swan aggressive against his mate following incident) -- Teresa -- 17 February 2009

We have a pair of mute swans on our one acre pond. They have been together for 3 years now. Our female swan was recently tramatized by getting herself tangled in a line that lead to a pump used to ...

Re: Romeo and Juliette (male swan aggressive against his mate following incident) -- The Regal Swan -- 17 February 2009

Hi Teresa: Yours is the second case of a swan being caught in a pump in the last two weeks. Glad to know that she is doing okay. Now, are you absolutely sure that you have a male and a female swan? ...

Sam the migratory swan -- Joy -- 17 February 2009

Should we have the current cygnets pinioned? If so, you're saying it should be done at 3 weeks? Do you have tips on catching them, especially since Sam is so protective. Thanks!

Re: Sam the migratory swan -- The Regal Swan -- 17 February 2009

Hi Joy: If you can get a couple of kayakers or a couple of boats, low motor and do not get close to the swans (otherwise the cygnets can dive under the boat and get hit by the motor). This is why ...

General questions: Color of swan feet, territory swap, hierarchy, recognizes its name, too close? -- Pat -- 16 February 2009

Hi, I'm hoping that you won't mind answering a few unrelated questions. I'm new to swans and trying to understand as much as possible about my new buddies! 1 If a mute swan's legs and feet are more ...

Re: General questions: Color of swan feet, territory swap, hierarchy, recognizes its name, too close -- The Regal Swan -- 16 February 2009

Hi Pat: Great questions! 1. Mute swans are the species (Cygnus olor). So, they are known as Mute Swans in scientific taxonomic terms. However, swan keepers designate them as Royal or Polish based ...

Re: General questions: Color of swan feet, territory swap, hierarchy, recognizes its name, too close -- Pat -- 17 February 2009

Thanks for your informative answers. I wish I knew all of the answers to the questions you posed, but unfortunately, I am new to the lake. From what I have learned from neighbors, Carl is not a young ...

Re: General questions: Color of swan feet, territory swap, hierarchy, recognizes its name, too close -- The Regal Swan -- 17 February 2009

Hi Pat: This additional information is much more insightful. Humans are his protectors from other aggressive swans so he is using you more as a protection agent rather than being imprinted. GOOD ...

Sam the "migratory" pinioned swan -- Joy -- 16 February 2009

Approximately three years ago we moved to the country in the central area of NC. We have a 7 acre pond on our property and thus acquired a Black Austrailian male swan named Sam, approximately 20 ...

Re: Sam the "migratory" pinioned swan -- The Regal Swan -- 16 February 2009

Hi Joy: There are several possibilities to what is occurring with the "migration". Sam may have found a better food source, i.e., aquatic grasses, grazing grasses and vegetation nearby the second ...

birth control -- Jamie -- 15 February 2009

We have pet Swans. Frederick and Jewell are 5 yrs. old. They had 5 cygnets 2 yrs. ago. Fred is very agressive towards everyone but his owner when he is a daddy. We would appreciate any info we can ...

Re: birth control -- The Regal Swan -- 15 February 2009

Hi Jamie: Not much is known about swans and their hormone levels. In fact, we just completed some testing of various swan species with the University of Tennessee-Knoxville Veterinary School's ...

injured swan -- Kerri -- 15 February 2009

HI, We have rescued an injured mute swan at our veterinary clinic. We believe it was hit by a car in our small town. After removing old fishing line from around a deformed right foot and treating it ...

Re: injured swan -- The Regal Swan -- 15 February 2009

Hi Kerri: I just spoke with one of our veterinarians, Dr. Christopher Brown. We need to know a couple of questions answered: Is the swan on an I.V.? Is the swan able to eat by itself? If it is not ...

Re: injured swan -- Kerri -- 17 February 2009

Yes the swan is eating by itself and she actually stood up yesterday. ( sorry for the delay in answering I myself have been under the weather) I offered her our horses hay soaked in water and a ...

Re: injured swan -- The Regal Swan -- 17 February 2009

Hi Kerri: Great news that she is eating. However, DO NOT GIVE her hay. If there is any amount of red clover in the hay, it can kill her. Use romaine or iceberg lettuce to supplement her grass needs. ...

Re: injured swan -- Kerri L. Burg -- 22 February 2009

Hi, Wanted to thank you so much for your expertise on our injured swan. The diet made a big difference. She ( i think) was finally strong enough and full of her self and has been returned to Lake ...

Re: injured swan -- The Regal Swan -- 22 February 2009

Hi Kerri: You and the swan are very welcome. Great news! Thanks for the update. The Regal Swan

lone swan -- Pat Licata -- 12 February 2009

Hello, I recently moved to a cove on a 550 acre lake that has a few pair of trumpet as well as mute swans. Since June, I have been visited by "Carl," whom I believe is a male. Occassionally, he will ...

Re: lone swan -- The Regal Swan -- 13 February 2009

Hi Pat: This behavior may be explained in two ways. Either both swans are males or females and there is a territorial issue of who owns the lake and all of its resources, i.e., food, etc. There is a ...

Define OUR territory -- Kristin -- 10 February 2009

My husband, son and I live in a condo complex that, spring through fall, is also home to two mute swans and however many cygnets are hatched that year. The swans are not native, but are brought in by ...

Re: Define OUR territory -- The Regal Swan -- 10 February 2009

Hi Kristin: Great question! Swans can become very territorial when they feel safe, have a good supply of food and a grazing ground of grass. So, here are a few questions and suggestions that might ...

Pairs Behaviour -- Tracy -- 9 February 2009

While visiting New York I went to the lake and feed some swans, the question I have is that everytime I did that one swan would take the bread out of my hand while the other stood back and hissed. ...

Re: Pairs Behaviour -- The Regal Swan -- 9 February 2009

Hi Tracy: We have seen this same behavior in some swans (not all). It usually is the male who takes the bread and the female hisses. However, we have a female which will take the bread and the male ...

Injured leg -- Barry Gruberg -- 7 February 2009

Please help. Our male swan ( we have on male on female) two years old, got his foot caught between a rope and a piece of wood that supports a pump motor used keep a portion of the pond free of ice. ...

Re: Injured leg -- The Regal Swan -- 8 February 2009

Hi Barry: We are sorry for the accident to the swan. Unfortunately, surgery is going to be the only answer to this issue. You will need to take him to an avian veterinarian. If he survives the injury ...

Re: Injured leg -- Barry Gruberg -- 8 February 2009

Thank you for your prompt reply. I was able to stabilize our swan by rushing him to a local vet emergency clinic last night. The resuscitated him, giving him an electrolyte IV drip etc. Luckily today ...

Re: Injured leg -- The Regal Swan -- 8 February 2009

Hi Barry: Here are a couple of suggestions. Ask the lady if she will take both swans. We have found that if the pairs can stay together through rehab, injured swans do much better. As you stated, ...

Re: Injured leg -- Barry -- 11 February 2009

My swan made it through surgery, he had to have two pins and a little brace to keep his bones and joint in place. The brace will come off in about two weeks, and he is being pumped full of ...

Re: Injured leg -- The Regal Swan -- 12 February 2009

Hi Barry: What great news! Okay, we need to think about the reintroduction of the mate. Here are a couple of thoughts. If the birds have to stay out of water for 3 weeks, this is okay as you can wet ...

Re: Injured leg -- Barry -- 6 March 2009

Our male swan, after surgery with two pins in his leg, and staying at a bird sanctuary under daily care to recuperate didn't make it. His leg lost too much blood and became infected after a couple of ...

Female rejects the new male -- The Regal Swan -- 6 March 2009

Hi Barry: This is not normal behavior. First things first. Make sure that you had a female and not another male. Usually, females are not as aggressive as the males and will not facilitate a chase. ...

Re: Female rejects the new male -- Barry -- 7 March 2009

This has become a difficult situation. The new male swan just sits on the edge of the ice bordering the free water, which is melting everyday due to the warmer temperatures here in the Hudson Valley ...

Re: Female rejects the new male -- The Regal Swan -- 7 March 2009

Hi Barry: It is CRITICAL that you recapture the new swan. ALL NEW swans must be penned because they will either get killed by trying to leave a new habitat, starve to death or killed by a predator. ...

Re: Female rejects the new male -- Barry -- 7 March 2009

ok, it wont be easy but i can do that. I still have a pen from the original pair, and its warm enough now to put it on land and in the water. Half the pond has de-thawed and next week its going to be ...

Re: Female rejects the new male -- The Regal Swan -- 7 March 2009

Hi Barry: Good start. Please email your phone number to stanleyparkswans@gmail.com The moderator will be contacting us and will also give you our cell phone. If you need to speak in further depth, ...

My swans are laying eggs in the cold...... -- Richard -- 5 February 2009

I have a 5+ year old pair of Black Swans I purchased this winter. They have started making a nest, and now have laid the first egg. I am in NC and it is still the middle of winter. They raised young ...

Re: My swans are laying eggs in the cold...... -- The Regal Swan -- 5 February 2009

Hi Richard: Unfortunately, your case is not the exception. Florida is experiencing the coldest temperatures in 10 years. We have seen Black Swans lay eggs throughout these extreme freezing cold ...

Re: My swans are laying eggs in the cold...... -- Richard -- 6 February 2009

Thanks for the quick reply. I'll cross my fingers and see how it goes.

Re: My swans are laying eggs in the cold...... -- The Regal Swan -- 6 February 2009

Hi Richard: You are very welcome. Please let us know how things progress. We just heard that two more Black Swan cygnets in the Central Florida area were lost last night in the cold temperatures even ...

Re: My swans are laying eggs in the cold...... -- Richard -- 4 March 2009

I have been so stressed, we have had days up to 70 and nights with lows only around 50........then here we are again, back to 30 degree highs and 12 degree lows...... last Friday and Sat. we got ...

Re: My swans are laying eggs in the cold...... -- The Regal Swan -- 4 March 2009

Hi Richard: Yes, the swans know when the eggs are no longer viable. As long as the birds are still sitting on the nest, it means that at least some of the eggs are viable. If the swans start kicking ...

Video by the Regal Swan Foundation -- The Regal Swan Foundation -- 4 February 2009

The Regal Swan Foundation

Rescued Swan Can't Move - Looking for facility in Southern New York -- John O'Mahony -- 4 February 2009

While waking my dogs in the early morning of Feb. 3rd, I came upon a swan that was sitting in the snow on a walkway that runs across a local dam in Croton on Hudson, NY. Its head was up but it did ...

Re: Rescued Swan Can't Move -- The Regal Swan -- 4 February 2009

Hi John: We do not know of a specific facility in southern New York. You might try Gooseneck Hill Sanctuary (New York), ask for Rosemary at 716-942-6835. If she cannot help you, we would recommend ...

Swan -- Daniel -- 3 February 2009

i have 3 questions 1. Do swans extremely sensitive about their egg? 2. What do they do to keep their egg safe? 3.Do swan sometimes abandon their egg?

Re: Swan -- The Regal Swan -- 3 February 2009

Hi Daniel: Yes, is the answer to sensitivity of the eggs as well as abandoning eggs. Swans know when their eggs are fertile and if they are going to hatch. If the eggs are infertile or do not have ...

swan -- linda -- 3 February 2009

your message helped me greatly...I was feeding iceberg lettuce and will try romaine...there is a small place in the ice--not big area--but they do tend to stay there and just venture on the ice ...

Re: swan -- The Regal Swan -- 3 February 2009

Hi Linda: You are very welcome. The swans may not be able to go to warmer weather if they are pinioned (unable to fly) and someone brought them to the lake as a pet. Just a thought. If you need ...

swan -- linda -- 2 February 2009

I have two swam on our small lake..they stayed all winter and the lake is almost frozen over...I tried to give them lettuce and they will eat nothing but saltless saltine crackers...what else can I ...

Re: swan -- The Regal Swan -- 2 February 2009

Hi Linda: Try to cut a small hole in the ice if you can (near the bank). The swans will stay in this area and you can feed them some cracked corn, lettuce and bread. If you can get them to come ...

Old swan eggs in the nest -- Donna-Marie -- 26 January 2009

Hi, wondering if you could assist. We have 2 Mute swans on our stream in Lincoln (New Zealand). They are long term residents. They have been unsuccessful in the last 2 years breeding, once their eggs ...

Re: Old swan eggs in the nest -- The Regal Swan -- 26 January 2009

Hi Donna-Marie: Great question. You can go ahead and remove the eggs. BE CAREFUL, they can explode and you do not want to be anywhere around when this happens. The smell alone will be unbelievable. ...

how to capture lake swan when nesting -- gary schaefer -- 6 January 2009

I have two mute swans that have breed and delivered their young last year. However, as they matured they have all left our lake. I am aware of pinioning and wish to do so when they deliver next ...

Re: how to capture lake swan when nesting -- The Regal Swan -- 6 January 2009

Hi Gary: First, are the mute swans your swans? Do you need a license/permit to have the swans in your state? If the swans are not yours and/or you need a permit, you may not legally be able to pinion ...

What to feed mute swans -- Julie -- 29 December 2008

We have 2 mute swans in our lake and we have been feeding them dry dog food. They seem to love it and eat it everyday. Is this good for them? Thanks!

Re: What to feed mute swans -- The Regal Swan -- 29 December 2008

Hi Julie: Actually, dog food or anything with too much protein can be harmful to the birds. Dog food is not only rich in protein which can cause angel wing in the birds, but there is no nutritional ...

Feeding wild swans -- Deborah Limanek -- 22 December 2008

I have a few swans that are wintering down at a local pond.. I was wondering what is appropriate for me to feed them.. do they eat sunflower seeds? I do not want to make them sick.. thankyou.. deb

Re: Feeding wild swans -- The Regal Swan -- 22 December 2008

Hi Deborah: You should feed the birds lettuce, small amounts of bread if any and poultry layer pellets mixed with cracked corn. You might also want to check to see what your local and state ...

do swans hibernate -- Ann Corcoran -- 20 December 2008

There is a single clipless swan down my round in a good size pond. He is now in the middle of his pond which is frozen. Is he hibernating? Is there an organization I should call as this seems so sad. ...

Re: do swans hibernate -- The Regal Swan -- 21 December 2008

Hi Ann: Swans do not hibernate, they migrate to warmer areas. Are you sure this swan is clipped or that it is stuck in the lake and cannot fly because of take-off problems? If the pond is completely ...

high winds -- Doreen S. -- 7 December 2008

There is one swan down the road in a good size pond and has been there around 2-3 years. It is 24 degrees tonight with winds around 20-25...how does he survive? There is no real protection in this ...

Re: high winds -- The Regal Swan -- 7 December 2008

Hi Doreen: If the swan has survived at the pond for 2-3 years, it has found a good habitat and is able to handle the inclement weather. Normally, 20-25 mph winds aren't that bad as long as there is ...

More on Mute swans in Calif (legal aspects) -- Mike -- 3 December 2008

First I want to thank everyone for their thoughts and ideas regarding the legality of mute swans in California. Unfortunately it is looking very bleak. A new law was passed a few months back that ...

Re: More on Mute swans in Calif (legal aspects) -- The Regal Swan -- 3 December 2008

Hi Mike: Yes, this is unfortunately, the way that a lot of state laws are going. The reason behind this is that some purists believe that if a species is not native, it poses a problem to native ...

winter swan care -- Scott Boat -- 3 December 2008

My pond freezes solid in the winter and no other open water is availible ! How can I keep my swans safe and healthy for the winter ?

Re: winter swan care -- The Regal Swan -- 3 December 2008

Hi Scott: Are the swans pinioned (Can't fly)? Are they captive swans or did they find the pond on their own? What species? We ask these questions because of various state laws regarding the ...

Mute swans in California -- Mike -- 1 December 2008

Hi, I live in California and after a lot of research on the legality of bring mute swans into california I purchased a mated pair of mute swans. Now the local Fish and Game warden is telling me that ...

Re: Mute swans in California -- The Regal Swan -- 2 December 2008

Hi Mike: Yes, this rule is in most states regarding feral (non-native) species. Usually, there are several ways to address this issue: 1. Get rid of the birds which is what you do not want to do, ...

Re: Mute swans in California -- lisa sommer -- 3 December 2008

Mike try contacting Jack at www.creeksidebirds.com. He is a licensed breeder of exotics birds including swans and is located outside of Sacremento California. He may be able to provide you the ...

Re: Mute swans in California -- The Regal Swan -- 3 December 2008

Thanks Lisa. The Regal Swan

swans for sale -- sonia mesry -- 28 November 2008

dear swan friends from all over..........i received this email this morning. they have swans for sale for $250 each and they have been pinioned. i will attach the link below. if you like you can also ...

swans for sale -- sonia mesry -- 26 November 2008

http://www.agr.state.ga.us/mbads/results.aspx?PrintDate=11/19/2008 ...

Looking for Bewick and Tundra swans -- The Regal Swan -- 27 November 2008

Hi Sonia: Thanks for the update. We are also looking for Bewick and Tundra swans if anyone knows about a breeder. The Lake Eola Park project, Swans of the World that we are presenting in Orlando ...

Black Swans -- Maile -- 26 November 2008

Hi, I work at a small lake in San Diego, CA and someone recently dropped off their pet Black Swan. It has been very friendly and it acknowledges all the staff and even swims to shore when we are ...

Re: Black Swans -- The Regal Swan -- 27 November 2008

Hi: Unfortunately, it sounds like botulism or lead poisoning. Either way, the swan will not be able to hold its head up because of involvement of the neck muscles and central nervous system. If the ...

relocating mute swans -- Jim -- 26 November 2008

I have a pair of 10 yr. old swans. They live in my pond in the Boston area. I am moving to the west coast of Florida and want to know if you think my swans would survive an air flight and the ...

Re: relocating mute swans -- The Regal Swan -- 26 November 2008

Hi Jim: They would probably have no problem, especially if you are going to take care of them as you have taken care of them in Boston. The only caution is that you must have a lake habitat free from ...

Swan breeder -- Steve -- 24 November 2008

Looking to put mute swans in my ponds. Need to know of any breeders in AZ. Thanks

Re: Swan breeder -- The Regal Swan -- 24 November 2008

Hi Steve: We do not know of any breeders in the Arizona area. This does not mean that there are no breeders, but just that we don't know about them. We have dealt with Howell Exotic Waterfowl in ...

Re: Swan breeder -- lisa sommer -- 25 November 2008

Steve, I recommend going to www.creeksidebirds.com which is in California. I purchased my female mute (as a companion to my male that was a rescue) from Jack the owner 3 yrs ago. The bird was shipped ...

Re: Swan breeder -- amy short -- 26 November 2008

Look at Craigs List too. That is how I found my black swans. Don't make the same mistake that I did and release as soon as you acquire your swans. You will have to pen them for several weeks so that ...

Re: Swan breeder -- The Regal Swan -- 26 November 2008

Hi Amy: Thanks for the suggestion. Also, how did your swan progress with the pouch under the beak? The Regal Swan

Re: Swan breeder -- amy short -- 29 November 2008

We took Romeo to a exotic bird vet and animal clinic. Needless to say, she had no idea what to do. Charged us alot of money to do nothing. So, being that I am a nurse and fortunate to have several ...

Re: Swan breeder -- The Regal Swan -- 30 November 2008

Hi Amy: Glad to know that the swan is well. The lack of veterinary knowledge regarding swans is unfortunately what we have found. It is for this reason that we try to get veterinary medical ...

What can i feed a swan. -- leah -- 23 November 2008

For 3 weeks now we´ve been having this young swan (but feathers are already white) at the small lake (say 75x50 meters wide) infront of our house. My daughter is so fond of the swan that she would ...

Re: What can i feed a swan. -- The Regal Swan -- 23 November 2008

Hi Leah: Yes, 1 loaf is too much. You might want to cut down to a couple of slices each time so that you are only giving 5-6 slices a day. Even whole grain bread can change the blood sugar of swans. ...

Re: What can i feed a swan. -- leah -- 26 November 2008

The next morning after I wrote here, the animal ambulance to the swan away to a bigger lake and to be united with other swans. It is more than a kilometer away from our house and we followed where it ...

Re: What can i feed a swan. -- The Regal Swan -- 26 November 2008

Hi Leah: Here is what we are surmising is occuring. Your swan is a juvenile, meaning mom and dad just kicked him out of the house. Now, he is supposed to go out on his own and find food, shelter, ...

depressed swan -- D Patton -- 19 November 2008

Last year there were two pairs of swans living on the pond beside my workplace - this year there is one pair and a single male. The single male has had some recent problems - he had a swollen neck ...

Re: depressed swan -- The Regal Swan -- 19 November 2008

Hi: There may be something wrong with the swan especially if whatever it swallowed will not digest. We would strongly urge you to contact Wendy Hermon at the Swan Lifeline Rescue Center in Eton. Even ...

swan feeding -- Karen -- 18 November 2008

Can you feed a swan cracked corn and, if so, do you just put it down or put in a bowl? Do they like lettuce? Much thanks.

Re: swan feeding -- The Regal Swan -- 19 November 2008

Hi Karen: Yes, swans can be fed cracked corn, but it needs to be mixed 1/2 and 1/2 with poulty layer pellets. Cracked corn is only a filler and does not supply the vitamins and minerals needed by the ...

winter shelter -- Margo S. -- 18 November 2008

The wind is howling and winter coming,we are concerned about a swan down the road in a good size pond. There is no shelter, only some weeds on one side. It is clipped so cannot go anywhere. It is the ...

Re: winter shelter -- The Regal Swan -- 19 November 2008

Hi Margo: How long as the swan lived on the pond? If it has been several years, then apparently it is doing quite well. If it has just recently been placed, then there might be a problem. Also, how ...

Injured Swan-Please help! -- Kelly Giamperoli -- 13 November 2008

I live in Massachusetts (U.S.) and there is an injured swan living on the beach not far from me. Winter is coming and I’m very concerned about it’s well being. It appears to have a broken wing and ...

Re: Injured Swan-Please help! -- The Regal Swan -- 14 November 2008

Hi Kelly: You seem to have contacted the same agencies that we would have in your area. Since we are in Florida, we need to ask if there is anyone reading this post for assistance. DOES ANYONE HAVE A ...

Re: Injured Swan-Please help! -- Jennifer -- 21 November 2008

Here is a list of people who accept waterfowl (domestic or non native like mutes) MASSACHUSETTS Nevins Farm http://www.petfinder.org/shelters/MA147.html http://www.nevinsfarm.com/ Wild Care, Inc. ...

nests and predators -- Andy -- 10 November 2008

Hi there, I'm afraid I'm a bit nature-dim, but have a question. swans nest in shallow water, near land. surely this make them relatively easy pickings for predators? I believe that parents and young ...

Re: nests and predators -- The Regal Swan -- 13 November 2008

Hi Andy: Sorry about the delay in getting back to you, but we were having some computer problems. The cygnets need to stay warm and dry. The only way that the mother swan can accomplish this is to ...

antibiotics in birds -- amy short -- 9 November 2008

In the swan keeper book they stated that swans love donuts and that is a good way to give them antibiotics. Do you have any other method that works for you? Thanks as always.... amy short

Re: antibiotics in birds -- The Regal Swan -- 9 November 2008

Hi Amy: Can you provide the dosage, type of antibiotic, size as well as the form (tablet, gelcap, liquid, etc.)??. This will give us a better idea on how to respond to your question. Generally, if ...

A very inactive Swan -- sarah -- 31 October 2008

In my local reserve there are 4 swans, 1 of which has not moved for approx 7 days. It is nesteled at the side of the lake, i have seen it moving as it pecks the water and reeds around it. Is this ...

Re: A very inactive Swan -- The Regal Swan -- 31 October 2008

Hi Sarah: Normally, most swans are very active. Is there a possibility that the swan is entangled in something and cannot move? Is there a possibility that the other swans (especially the ones with ...

swans -- Joanne Herbert -- 27 October 2008

Do swans have nerves and/or blood vessels..if not, they do not feel the cold correct? Much thanks.

Re: swans -- The Regal Swan -- 27 October 2008

Hi Joanne: Yes, swans are just like other birds, mammals and living things. Blood vessels and nerves make up their anatomical structure. Swans do feel cold and can easily get chilled if they do not ...

winter weather -- Maria Graziano -- 23 October 2008

Thanks so much for easing our minds..I have to add this swan has no choice but to stay put as we think it was bought as a "decorative" swan with the wings clipped. Its a beautiful bird; hate to think ...

Re: winter weather -- The Regal Swan -- 24 October 2008

Hi Maria: We don't think that the cold is going to affect him as much as if the pond/lake freezes. Just make sure he does not get trapped on a frozen body of water and that he has plenty to eat, ...

winter weather -- Maria Graziano -- 22 October 2008

There is a beautiful swan down the road in a pond (been there about 4 yeara)..is it alright in the cold winter weather with no shelter? Do swans feel the cold, ice and snow? Thanks as we feel bad but ...

Re: winter weather -- The Regal Swan -- 23 October 2008

Hi Maria: If the swan has survived fof 4 years in the area, then the habitat is probably very conducive to the swan's survival. Swans and other birds/animals will not stay or survive in habitats with ...

Lonely Female -- Dan -- 21 October 2008

Hi Guys! It's awesome what you're doing! We have a one-acre pond on a secluded 7-acre lot. In Dec 2006, I acquired 2 black Australian swans--supposedly a male and a female. Both had their wings ...

Re: Lonely Female -- The Regal Swan -- 21 October 2008

Hi Dan: There are any number of issues in your situation. We will try to address some of the possibilities. The webbing and phlange damage could have been any number of things such as being caught on ...

An Injuried Swan -- Jen -- 20 October 2008

Hi, We had a swan laying on the lawn for 5 hrs without moving last night. Her left feet was shrd up. She tried to walk steps but collapsed. Unfortunately no animal control came to pick her up after ...

Re: An Injuried Swan -- The Regal Swan -- 21 October 2008

Hi Jen: We are so sorry about this case. Unfortunately, there is no way of knowing the outcome. If the foot is the only appendage involved (not the leg, ankle, etc.), then the swan should still be ...

Re: An Injured Swan -- Jennifer -- 28 October 2008

Shredding is common with snapping turtle bites. If that ever happens again and you can find help try looking up Duck Rescue Network www.duckrescue.org for someone in your area, many of the rescuers ...

swans memory -- lauren -- 8 October 2008

the other day i was canoeing and we had a weak canoer with us so had to wait for him to move from a swan who was marking his territory, making sure the swan didnt go for the canoer, but i was ...

Re: swans memory -- The Regal Swan -- 8 October 2008

Hi Lauren: Swans, like many animals, have pretty good memories, but it depends on the individual swan whether it will repeat its aggressive behavior. It also depends on whether someone in a canoe ...

Swan behaviour -- Nat -- 6 October 2008

I have observed adult swans racing about on our salt pond and holding wings high curving and recurving neck. Is this mating behaviour?

Re: Swan behaviour -- The Regal Swan -- 6 October 2008

Hi Nat: Great question. Actually, the English call this "busking" in that the swans are trying to make themselves look larger than normal and are trying to declare territory. This can be part of ...

Oct 18, 2008 Fund-Raiser for the Lake Eola Swans and Regal Swan Foundation -- The Regal Swan Foundation, Inc. -- 5 October 2008

On October 18, 2008, we are conducting a fund-raiser to coincide with our Swan Round-up. Here is the daytime event. It will run about 4 hours and then we move to the evening event (see next posts).

Lake Eola Park to Host Swan Festival and Swan Soiree Benefiting the Lake Eola Swans and The Regal Swan® -- The Regal Swan® -- 5 October 2008

Reprint of the March 13 Press Release about the October 18 Swan Festival and Swan Soiree The Regal Swan® contact: Shirley Bolin Tel.: (407) 931-6838 Email: Bolin.S@att.net www.theregalswan.com Orange ...

Oct 18, 2008 Swan Soiree in Orlando -- The Regal Swan Foundation, Inc. -- 5 October 2008

Here is the nighttime event. We are bringing in a bass baritone from the Richard Wagner Music Festival from Bayreath, Germany, a classical guitarist and soprano and a Broadway composer/pianist and ...

Behavior -- Donnanow -- 30 September 2008

The apartment complex is about to order the swan, and want ot know about aggression. A little is great since we don't wan the geese or too many ducks populating the pond, but their are children in ...

Re: Behavior -- The Regal Swan -- 30 September 2008

Hi Donna: Aggression depends on the individual swan, the species and mainly, how it is treated. If there is a lot of good human contact, i.e., no one chasing the swans, people feeding them and ...

supplemental feeding -- Jeffrey Mohr -- 27 September 2008

Hello, Here at Star Lake Camp we are investigating getting a pair of swans (born in April or May 2008) and were wondering how much supplemental food is required per day for just the two swans? How ...

Re: supplemental feeding -- The Regal Swan -- 27 September 2008

Hi Jeffrey: You will need a 25 lb bag of cracked corn and a 25 lb bag of poultry layer pellet. Mix together and place in a Blitz feeder. Once you fill the feeder, it may hold l/4+ bag, you will be ...

Use of term Swan in music -- Marvel McGuire -- 22 September 2008

I am studying a song by Samuel Barber called "The Crucifixion." It is one of a cycle of songs based on poems from Irish monks. In the song, Jesus is referred to as "O Swan." Do you have any idea why? ...

Re: Use of term Swan in music -- The Regal Swan -- 23 September 2008

Hi Marvel: We have also been conducting research on swan legends for another upcoming book that we are publishing. We found a reference link many months ago and here it is: ...

should I introduce a female? -- Karen Hewitt -- 18 September 2008

Hi, we just moved into a house in MI and have two resident swans that are just beautiful. The previous owner said that they have been here for about five years, but he has never seen any offspring. ...

Re: should I introduce a female? -- The Regal Swan -- 19 September 2008

Hi Karen: There are several issues with trying to introduce a new swan. 1. Has anyone actually sexed the swans to find out the true gender? They may both be females or an infertile pair. 2. They have ...

small pond wanting swans -- Donnanow -- 18 September 2008

My apartment complex is hoping to aquire a pair of swans. The pond is small but nice. What is the amount of space a pair need?

Re: small pond wanting swans -- The Regal Swan -- 19 September 2008

Two swans can live comfortably on any size pond as long as the birds have an ample area to swim, preen, graze and rest with shade, shelter and protection from predators such as domestic dogs, cats, ...

Angel Wing -- The Regal Swan -- 17 September 2008

Hi Jason: We have had a couple of recent posts regarding angel wing that you might wish to refer. The ultimate problem with angel wing is that the bird will be unlikely able to fly. There are ...

Re: Angel Wing -- Jason Smith -- 18 September 2008

Thank you very much for your speedy reply and the information you have provided me with, the swans are quite an attraction for visitors and are often fed white bread so this appears to be the cause, ...

Re: Angel Wing -- The Regal Swan -- 19 September 2008

Hi Jason: You are very welcome. Bread is usually not in itself the culprit of the angel wing. There has to be another source of too much protein in the diet. Also, there are other researchers who ...

Angel Wing -- Jason Smith -- 17 September 2008

There have been a bredding pair of swans on our local pond for many years now and they have had many cygnets, there is 1 out of the latest one's that has something wrong with its wing and i have ...

Cygnet wing feathers -- Marc Balzac -- 30 August 2008

A black cygnet has his left wing feathers sticking straight out for the last few days. Is this normal or could it be angle wing? We have been feeding him poultry layer pellets, but heard someone may ...

Cygnet wing feathers = Angel wing -- The Regal Swan -- 30 August 2008

Hi Marc: Yes this looks like angel wing. If in fact, someone was feeding the bird cat food, it is too high in protein. There are two causes of angel wing. Either it is genetic or the diet is too high ...

cygnet wing feathers -- Marc Balzac -- 3 September 2008

This is a better picture of the wing...Does it still look like angel wing or could it be an injury? I have not been able to confirm if and how much cat food it was fed.

Re: cygnet wing feathers -- DRN -- 11 September 2008

Its not too late to fix the wing, whether its broken or angel wing. If its broken you still want to pull the wing in so the wing can heal in a somewhat normal position instead of sticking out where ...

Trumpeter Swans wintering -- Mike -- 29 August 2008

Hello, I am taking care of 2 pair of trumpeter swans in western Wyoming. This will be their first winter here- it will get to 40 below, so leaving them out is not an option. So, in the barn they go. ...

Trumpeter Swans wintering -- The Regal Swan -- 30 August 2008

H Mike: Great question and what a care project you are undertaking! We would suggest an area of at least 8 feet wide and at least 12 feet in length. We use a large kiddie pool which will allow the ...

swan feed -- Jennifer -- 29 August 2008

Have you ever used Mazuri Waterfowl feed? Our swans were born 5/3/08 and I am thinking about switching to their maintenance formula. Until now they have been eating unmedicated poultry starter. I ...

swan feed -- The Regal Swan -- 29 August 2008

Hi Jennifer: We have heard of the product, but have never personally used it. We use poultry layer pellet and cracked corn. The layer pellets provide minerals, vitamins and other nutrients while the ...

3 day old swan - what do I feed it? -- Quack -- 28 August 2008

Hi, we have just rescued a three day old swan from our garden and it is not looking good. However we are concerned about it not eating and were wondering what exactly we should be feeding it. Please ...

3 day old cygnet -- The Regal Swan -- 28 August 2008

Hi Quack: You should feed it lettuce and poultry mash. The best thing you could do for this young cygnet would be to get it to a swan rescue facility. One such facility is the Swan Lifeline Rescue ...

help! we have a swan chase here! -- sonia mesry -- 25 August 2008

dear regal swan project....hello once again. we have a 6 month old cygnet(we think is a female) she is soo sweet and a complete darling. her sibling died 2 months ago from a congenital condition. the ...

Help! We have a swan chase here. -- The Regal Swan -- 25 August 2008

Hi Sonia: You need to keep all adult swans away from this cygnet. They will try to remove her from the pond even if it means hurting or killing her. She is way too young to be placed with the 5 year ...

TRUMPETER SWANS FOR SALE IN PA -- sonia mesry -- 24 August 2008

HI...I CAME ACROSS THIS AD ON EGGBID.COM THEY HAVE TRUMPETER SWANS FOR SALE. A PREVIOUS POST WAS LOOKING FOR BEWICK OR TUNDRA SWANS. DIDN'T KNOW IF TRUMPETER SWANS WERE OF INTEREST. INCASE..I POSTED ...

Looking for Bewicks or Toundras swans -- Patricia -- 24 August 2008

I am interested in exotic birds, specifically swans and think that the Bewicks or Tundras would be interesting breeds. Do you know where I might find a pair of either species from a breeder in the ...

Looking for Bewicks & Tundra Swans -- The Regal Swan -- 24 August 2008

Hi Patricia: We know of people who are also looking and even some people who have raised these two species. Unfortunately, we have come up dry on our search for these particular breeds. If anyone out ...

Mute swans -- amy short -- 22 August 2008

Hi, I don't know if I want to press my luck, but I was just offered the chance to purchase a pair of mute swans that are 1 year old. My black swans I recently purchased and have been on my pond now ...

Mute Swans -- The Regal Swan -- 23 August 2008

Hi Amy: Yes, each swan is an individual, so there is always the possibility of a good or bad scenario. First, how old are the black swans? If the black swans are also young swans, and they have only ...

Missing wing feathers -- Marc Balzac -- 21 August 2008

Twelve year old black swan has missing feathers on her right wing that never grow back...heard her left wing was broken several years ago...Any idea what would cause this?

Missing wing feathers -- The Regal Swan -- 22 August 2008

Hi Marc: Classic example of pinioning (the amputation at a very young age of the flight feather portion of the wing and usually required by law in most states if a bird is not indigenous to the ...

Swan Feeding: Dried Corn for Signets? -- colleen -- 21 August 2008

Hello, I live on the shore of easten Long Island, on a small canal, we have a pair of mute swans that live here year round, I started feeding the male dried corn one winter, which he seems to love, ...

Swan Feeding: Dried Corn for Cygnets -- The Regal Swan -- 21 August 2008

Hi Colleen: The best corn product is cracked corn. It is easily digestible as opposed to whole corn such as used to feed deer and other animals. The cracked corn is only a filler, meaning not much ...

mating behavior -- MBM -- 19 August 2008

I was told male swans do not have penises. If so, how do they mate?

Mating Behavior -- The Regal Swan -- 20 August 2008

Sorry it has taken so long to answer. We are under a storm watch with Fay which cannot seem to decide which way it wants to turn through Florida. In any case, yes, male swans have penises and are one ...

black swans -- amy short -- 10 August 2008

Hello, Mimi and Buck are doing well on the pond and seem to have attracted a mere 20-30 canadian geese as friends. Not that I wanted them to be killer swans, but I was hoping that they would not ...

Black Swans picture -- The Regal Swan -- 10 August 2008

Hi Amy: Great photo. How old is Buck & Mimi? How long have they been on your pond? Breeding season (twice a year for Black Swans) will increase the amount of territorialism. Just because they are not ...

older swan chasing cygnet!!! -- sonia mesry -- 10 August 2008

dear regal swan, hello once again with an important swan question. we have a 9 year old female mute swan named juliet. she has lost 4 mates over the years. we now have one of her babies back with ...

Older Swan Chasing Cygnet -- The Regal Swan -- 10 August 2008

Hi Sonia: If Hope is a female, then this is the problem with Juliet. She does not want any competition on her pond. The male will not be an issue because Juliet will eventually pair up with him. The ...

Black swans -- amy short -- 2 August 2008

Well, I am happy to say that I released my swan last night at feeding time. I let the pen open and it took them 30 minutes to leave. Much to my delight, I woke up this morning(after a toss and turn ...

Black Swans -- The Regal Swan -- 2 August 2008

Hi Amy: We're glad the penning worked out. Just like humans, birds and animals need to know that they are safe and have a place to call home. Lucky for this pair of swans, they found you. Enjoy! The ...

black swan -- amy short -- 29 July 2008

I recently purchased 2 mated black swans. They are 3 years old. The day I go them, I release them on my pond. Sure enough, they wandered. After 12 hours and the fire department in Indianapolis, I got ...

Black Swan -- The Regal Swan -- 29 July 2008

Hi Amy: Yes, we have had the YouTube moments also! Three weeks should (again the operative word is should) be ample time for the swans to understand that you are their food source and they need to ...

Lone Mute Swan / saltwater - growing concerns -- Anthony R -- 24 July 2008

Hi, love your site. I'm in New York City/Queens area, and a avid boater. Next to the docks where my boat is kept are abandoned/damaged docks about 50ft away from where my boat is kept. A lone Mute ...

Lone Mute Swan/Saltwater -- The Regal Swan -- 24 July 2008

Hi Anthony: Great question. Obviously, the swan has found a friend!!! This may be keeping it in the area, but not likely. If there is not a suitable habitat, i.e., shelter, food, shade, water, etc., ...

(Message Deleted by Poster) -- Jennifer -- 17 July 2008

Cygnets question -- The Regal Swan -- 17 July 2008

Hi Jennifer: Vent sexing at an early age in a swan is not reliable. Until the swans are approximately 1 year of age, this type of sexing is pretty inaccurate because the genitalia is not normally ...

Cygnets -- Jennifer -- 21 July 2008

Thank you for your time. I did find someone who was knowledgle about our swans conditions that was able to answer all of our questions. They are well taken care of now. I am going to delete my ...

Cygnets -- The Regal Swan -- 21 July 2008

Hi Jennifer: You are very welcome. Anytime that we can help, please do not hesitate to contact us. The Regal Swan

Swan Newbie -- Elizabeth -- 17 July 2008

Hi there and thanks for your informative Q + A site. I live in south central TN and wish to purchase a pair of swans for my 1-2 acre spring-fed pond. (Pic attached) I do not know how deep it is, but ...

Swan Newbie -- The Regal Swan -- 17 July 2008

Hi Elizabeth: Nice pond! We can't really say how the swans are going to interact with the ducks. Some swans will do well with ducks, others will either chase or kill ducks in their territory. This ...

Swan Newbie -- Elizabeth -- 17 July 2008

Thanks for the info! I found a floating nesting platform on a website and feel that I could construct something similar. Would the swans like this? (Measures L 60" x W 46" x H 13") I ...

Swan Newbie -- The Regal Swan -- 18 July 2008

Hi Elizabeth: We have heard various outcomes with the use of floating nest boxes, so it may or may not work. The Blitz feeder is placed on an 8 foot pole so that you can adjust the height according ...

Oct 18, 2008 Fund-Raiser for the Lake Eola Swans and Regal Swan Foundation -- The Regal Swan Foundation, Inc. -- 12 July 2008

On October 18, 2008, we are conducting a fund-raiser to coincide with our Swan Round-up. Here is the daytime event. It will run about 4 hours and then we move to the evening event (see next post).

Oct 18, 2008 Swan Soiree -- The Regal Swan Foundation, Inc. -- 12 July 2008

Here is the nighttime event. We are bringing in a bass baritone from the Richard Wagner Music Festival from Bayreath, Germany, a classical guitarist and soprano and a Broadway composer/pianist and ...

Is whole wheat bread bad for the swans? -- Patrick Joseph Rourke -- 10 July 2008

Your site says that store bought bread, like whole wheat, is bad for them? We have been feeding them for years, and the ones we feed are bigger than the ones that just eat naturally... and they ...

Is whole wheat bread bad for swans -- The Regal Swan -- 10 July 2008

Hi Patrick: We have no idea where you are seeing the whole wheat bread on our website, (www.theregalswan.com). We have never stated that whole wheat is bad for them. It is white bread that is not ...

Are these what you refer to "Polish Mutes" -- Patrick Joseph Rourke -- 10 July 2008

Hi, here where I work we have many swans... one clutch of them produced nine cygets, two of which are white and the rest the normal brown... there are perhaps 30 cygets around the area, and only ...

Are these what you refer as polish mutes -- The Regal Swan -- 10 July 2008

Hi Patrick: Absolutely, these are the classic looking polish mutes. Taxonomically, all mute swans are really mute swans. However, swan keepers refer to either the "royal" or "polish" mutes as a way ...

re Polish Swans -- Patrick Joseph Rourke -- 11 July 2008

Thank you very much, FYI, these two Polish are in a brine river of the USA.

re Polish Mutes -- The Regal Swan -- 11 July 2008

Hi Patrick: You are very welcome. Glad we could help. The Regal Swan

swan cygnets weak legs -- sonia mesry -- 26 June 2008

hello again. i wanted to ask you about our now 3 month old cygnets. it seems like they both are wobbly on their legs. they were both doing fine and now the bigger one can't use his right leg. he has ...

swan cygnets weak legs -- The Regal Swan -- 26 June 2008

Hi Sonia: If the female was exhibiting the same behavior earlier, but is now normal, we would say that this is probably from their overweight bodies being supported by small legs. Again, swans are ...

Attacking their own? -- Ayumi -- 19 June 2008

There is a very large corporate lake that sits behind my house, and every year, the two or three swan couples that occupy the different areas nest there. This year, one of the couples had seven ...

Attacking Their Own -- The Regal Swan -- 19 June 2008

Hi Ayumi: Great Question! Unfortunately, we have personally seen this happen. If there is something wrong with the cygnet, and believe us, the parents will know, they will either try or actually kill ...

Do swans have capsaicin receptors? -- Marc -- 16 June 2008

I am having a problem with raccoons feeding from my swan feeder. [My feeder is quite a distance from where my swans go to sleep for the night. My feeder is mounted into my pond but is reachable by ...

Do swans have capsaicin receptors -- The Regal Swan -- 17 June 2008

Hi Marc: Good question. We are not sure. Two points to consider. Anytime you use "pepper" type substances, i.e., mace, etc., you are dealing with mucous membranes, eyes, nose, etc. So, the swans ...

Alpha chloralose? -- Bandit 1 -- 11 July 2008

Do you know if they were using alpha chloralose? We occasionaly tranquilize birds and I would be interested to know which drug the swan reacted to.

cygnet not walking -- sonia mesry -- 11 June 2008

hello once again! i am writing to you in regards to our female cygnet. i have written numerous times over the years. i love this site. the female cygnet, along w/ her brother have been doing great! ...

cygnet not walking -- The Regal Swan -- 12 June 2008

Hi Sonia: The cygnet needs to be taken to a veterinarian. Due to the awkward weight a young swan (even adult for that matter) the swans are not that graceful on land and already have a hard time ...

Wandering -- Michelle -- 8 June 2008

Do swans have a tendency to wander? My husband got home a little bit ago to find that our pair and their cygnet were wandering in the corn field about 1/4 of a mile away. We have gotten a lot of rain ...

Michelle -- The Regal Swan -- 9 June 2008

Hi Michelle: Yes, swans wander and for various reasons. During the winter and spring migration, they may feel the urge to migrate. This may mean a few feet, yards and even blocks. Other reasons ...

Wandering -- Michelle -- 23 June 2008

Thanks for addressing this for me and for taking time to discuss it over the phone. The swans have been home for about a week now and have stopped wandering. All three - cob, pen, and cygnet are ...

Wandering -- The Regal Swan -- 23 June 2008

Hi Michelle: Glad we could be of help. Great news that the swans have stopped wandering. The Regal Swan

one swan all alone -- M. -- 1 June 2008

I live in a town on the Ohio River. We have one lonely swan that arrived here early this spring. I would like to find it a mate. How can you tell the sex of a swan just by looking at it from a ...

one swan alone -- The Regal Swan -- 2 June 2008

Hi: Probably the best solution would be to leave this swan alone. If it is a male and possibly lost its mate, it will not necessarily bond with another female. If it is a female, she might bond, but ...

fertility/viability of eggs -- andy -- 31 May 2008

We live in a rural part of central Mexico and were just asked to incubate some orphaned black swan eggs. (Because we have an incubator we use for chickens.) The parents were killed by coyotes, the ...

fertility/viability of eggs -- The Regal Swan -- 1 June 2008

Hi Andy: Good question. We have had very little success in incubating eggs. There are some waterfowl conservation groups who would be able to provide you with data regarding this matter. Try Sylvan ...

fertility/viability of eggs -- andy -- 1 June 2008

Thanks so much for your help. Based on your response, I'm not sure we should try but I will take care of the eggs until the owners return and let them make the final decision. I am contacting the ...

Fertility/Viability of eggs -- The Regal Swan -- 1 June 2008

Hi Andy: You are very welcome. Anytime you need assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us. The Regal Swan

readers of The Ugly Duckling -- andy -- 2 June 2008

O.K. - a couple of people have asked me this and at first I dismissed it but now I am wondering. Could a duck or goose be a surrogate mother for a swan? There is resort near us that has a pond ...

readers of the Ugly Duckling -- The Regal Swan -- 2 June 2008

Great Question Andy. Coincidentally, we have been receiving some information from around the world regarding various swan species, and today we received a comment from a swan researcher in Poland. He ...

wheatgrass for swans -- sonia mesry -- 30 May 2008

hi there. a fellow friend told me that wheatgrass is good for swans. i have the 6 week old cygnets here in atlanta. do you recommend me purchasing some of the wheatgrass for them to eat? many thanks, ...

wheatgrass for swans -- The Regal Swan -- 30 May 2008

Hi Sonia: Wheatgrass according to our horticulturist is a high nutrition aquatic plant food source for the swans. We are not sure if you can purchase it in Atlanta, but you might try. Although the ...

Supplemental Feeding -- Lisa Goodman -- 29 May 2008

We live on a small, man-made private lake. Over the last 10 years, the mute swan population has grown from 2 adults to at least 3 pairs of adults and babies each season, and teenagers from prior ...

Supplemental Feeding -- The Regal Swan -- 29 May 2008

Hi Lisa: Please see the previous post. Dog Food IS NOT A GOOD Nutritional source for the swans due to the possibility of developing "angel wing". The Regal Swan

adult swan on nest. -- sonia mesry -- 27 May 2008

hello again and thank you for your prompt response on my previous question. i had mentioned thst juliet was on a nest and you told me that the eggs were valentino's. and that our young cygnet's sperm ...

adult swan on nest -- The Regal Swan -- 27 May 2008

Hi Sonia: With this new information, then yes, there is a possibility that these eggs are the mother's and young juvenile's. Only time will tell if they are viable. As for the little cygnets, by all ...

Moulting -- Jeanne Moore -- 26 May 2008

One our our mute swans, approximately 20 yeasrs old, has lost neck feathers in a strange pattern. It looks like he was given a poodle cut on his neck, the feathers are that short. It's in an area ...

Moulting -- The Regal Swan -- 26 May 2008

Hi Jeanne: Great question, unfortunately, with little information to go on, we're not sure that we can answer this one. Is the bird moulting feathers in other areas? This will be easily observed ...

5 wk old cygnets -- sonia mesry -- 26 May 2008

dear regal swan....hello again. i previously wrote to you regarding two 5 wk old cygnets that we obtained a week ago. they seem to be doing well. however, we have our older swan coming to feed every ...

5 week old cygnets -- The Regal Swan -- 26 May 2008

Hi Sonia: More than likely, the eggs are from Valentino, especially if they were nesting. The young swan would not usually be able to produce viable sperm this early in his life. Next nesting season ...

5 mute swans -- Aimee DuPree -- 25 May 2008

The 2 swans went back to the beach where their is a little lagoon..saw them their myself on the way to the beach. Came home and the other 3 were gone guessing back with them b/c of boaters! Hope they ...

5 mute swans -- The Regal Swan -- 25 May 2008

Hi Aimee: You are very welcome. Thanks for your kind remarks. Enjoy these great creatures! The Regal Swan

5 mute swans -- Aimee DuPree -- 25 May 2008

Thank you for the quick response! They are mute swans. Yesterday people on kayaks made them nervous and had them flying all over the lake(some people do not care)they all left but one. This morning ...

5 mute swans -- The Regal Swan -- 25 May 2008

Hi Aimee: Because these are wild swans and probably not too crazy about you getting in the water with them, a feeder may or may not work. You will need to train them on how to use the feeder. ...

New Swans -- Shawn Z. -- 25 May 2008

Hi, I have lived on a pond my whole life and have never had any swans on it until about a week ago when 2 adult swans and 4 babies showed up out of nowhere and have been on the pond since. I have no ...

New Swans -- The Regal Swan -- 25 May 2008

Hi Shawn: Because we don't know which species the swans might be, we would only be surmising about how they got to your pond. Look at the color of the beak of the parents. Is the beak orange? If so, ...

5 mute swans -- Aimee DuPree -- 24 May 2008

I have 5 swans in my lake. I live in Charleston SC, and I am curious where they came from? Last year it was only 2 then they left after a couple days. This year only the male came back for a few ...

5 mute swans -- The Regal Swan -- 24 May 2008

Hi Aimee: Good questions. We'll take each one at time. First, they may be mute swans or they may be tundra or trumpeters. Look at the color of the beaks. If they have orange beaks, then they are mute ...

feeding 5 week old baby cygnets -- sonia mesry -- 21 May 2008

dear regal swan, hello again! i have a couple of questions for you. we bought a pair of 5 week old white cygnets. they were taken from their parents @ an early age. they have been sexed & pinioned. ...

Feeding 5 week old cygnets -- The Regal Swan -- 21 May 2008

Hi Sonia: Our major concern would be why someone would give you 5 week old cygnets. We do not recommend taking any cygnet from its parents until approximately 5-6 months of age when the parents will ...

swan eggs/care -- michael morse -- 21 May 2008

In our community we have two swans that have nested and had eggs several times and each time the eggs have been destroyed by raccoons or rats or possibly vultures. We live in a community surrounded ...

swan/eggs care -- The Regal Swan -- 21 May 2008

Hi Michael: We're not completely sure that vultures or even rats would be the cause of your egg loss. Usually, vultures are carrion eaters and unbroken eggs, usually would not be considered a food ...

hurt swan -- Lori Savage -- 17 May 2008

I hope you get this soon and are able to answer. My Husband and I live a very small lake in Azusa CA. USA. Our wonderful resident swan was attacked by a coyote last night. Thankfully someone heard ...

hurt swan -- The Regal Swan -- 17 May 2008

Hi Lori: If you can catch her, get her out of the water as soon as possible. The wound may not be as bad as you think, but it will need time to heal. Protect yourself from her wings and feet. Feet ...

injured swan -- Bandit 1 -- 11 July 2008

Its probably too late for this swan but you might want to get in touch with Terry Whatley. She works with a lot of waterfowl in the los angeles are and can recommend a vet and/or help you if the need ...

Mute Swans (2 Females)? -- darlene dybas -- 16 May 2008

We have a pair of swans (king & Queen). They are three yrs old. This is their 2nd year laying eggs. The first year the raccoons did all the eggs in. This year we have successfully trapped about a ...

Mute Swans (2 females) -- The Regal Swan -- 16 May 2008

Hi Dorian & Darlene: Good question. Without seeing the swans or conducting sexing, we really can't tell you for sure the gender. But, at least one must be a female if eggs are being laid. We have ...

Brother and Sister Swans -- Darla Bragg -- 16 May 2008

Our swans just had babies and we are planning to sell them. If someone would purchase a brother and a sister from the same clutch, we are wondering if they would mate. If so, is that a problem or can ...

Brother and Sister Swans -- The Regal Swan -- 16 May 2008

Hi Darla: Good question. Many conservation breeders will try to keep track of blood lines when they send breeding pairs to various facilities. However, even in the wild, breeding between siblings and ...

not sure if our grown cygnet is a male/female? -- sonia mesry -- 16 May 2008

dear swan specialist...hello again. i have written several times in the past on your site. i once again need your help. back in jan of this year we were forced to get rid of our cygnets due to the ...

Not sure if our grown cygnet is male/female -- The Regal Swan -- 16 May 2008

Hi Sonia: Good to hear from you. Yes, same gender swans can mate with each other. Females will still lay eggs, obviously infertile. Also, young juveniles "practice" mating behavior. So, until the ...

mute swan v.s trumpet swan -- berko -- 15 May 2008

I live out in the rockaways.. Swans in the the area are not rare. But what i witnessed was a well prepared attack(they came from 2 diff. directions) by two mute swans(i know this bc of their orange ...

mute vs trumpet swans -- The Regal Swan -- 15 May 2008

Hi: We don't have enough information to really discuss this situation. Without knowing exactly what species are involved, we can only project what might be occuring. The swans could have been ...

Grieving -- Jeanne Moore -- 30 April 2008

Do swans go through a grieving process when their mate has been ill and died? If so, how long before a new mate can be introduced?

Grieving -- The Regal Swan -- 30 April 2008

Hi Jeanne: Good question. We doubt that anyone could be so presumptious to believe that animals cannot grieve for a mate. In swans, whether you call it grieving or something else, they do seem to ...

Want Swans to keep Canada Geese away -- Caroline Christie -- 27 April 2008

We have Wedding Facility with a 1 1/2 acre lake and a problem with unwanted Canada Geese. We would like to purchase some swans for the lake, and for our brides and us, to enjoy. Our thinking is that ...

Want Swans to keep Canada Geese away -- The Regal Swan -- 27 April 2008

Hi Caroline: Swans may or may not be the answer to chasing geese. We have heard varying outcomes to using swans for this purpose. Some say it works great and others say it works for a limited time ...

Determining Approximate Hatch Date -- Jeanne Moore -- 25 April 2008

How do you determine an approximate hatch date? All information refers to 30 to 35 days from the laying of the first egg, however our swans are going about 45 days.

Determining Approximate Hatch Date -- The Regal Swan -- 26 April 2008

Hi Jeanne: Great question. This is really a good luck in trying to find out the answer type question. We have had some of the same questions ourselves. Yes, research says between 30-35 days, but we ...

sexing swans -- Lisa Nogay -- 22 April 2008

How do you sex adult and baby Royal Mute swans?

sexing swans -- The Regal Swan -- 22 April 2008

Hi Lisa: Great question! There are two ways to sex, depending on how much money you want to spend, reliability or how long you want to wait. The first is DNA Sequencing in which you can submit a ...

Swan eggs -- Patty Butler -- 16 April 2008

Hello, There is a man made lake in my back yard with 2 islands. I saw a Swan about a week ago on the smaller island and it looked like it was nesting. No problem with that, but there was a big rain ...

Swan eggs -- The Regal Swan -- 17 April 2008

Hi Patty: Good question. There may be several possibilities: The rain may have appeared to be of such torrential magnitude but in fact, the nest may have been built up in such a manner, that flooding ...

Swan eggs, -- Patty Butler -- 10 May 2008

Thanks for the information and sorry for my delay in responding. Your information was helpful in understanding the movements of the Swan. The Swan stuck around for a few more days but we have not ...

Swan Eggs -- The Regal Swan -- 10 May 2008

Hi Patty: Not a problem. Glad we could help. Our guess is that the swan thought better of trying to build a nest in the area after the rainfall and sought higher ground. The Regal Swan

Swans not swimming or eating -- Gail -- 13 April 2008

Four days ago I came home to find two swans on the pond in the town home development where I live. Since that time I have not seen them move at all - they do not swim , do not feed, have not even ...

Swans not swimming or eating -- The Regal Swan -- 14 April 2008

Hi Gail: We're not sure what the problem might be. If it is extremely cold, they may be trying to stay in the middle of the pond where the water is deeper and presumably much warmer. Not eating would ...

Louise, Austrailan Black Swan -- Connie erwig -- 31 March 2008

Hi I wanted to give you an update on Louise, our injured black swan. She is still hanging in there, but progress is slow. The other swan volunteer and I are alternating every few days keeping her at ...

Louise, Black Australian Swan -- The Regal Swan -- 1 April 2008

Hi Connie: Glad to hear she is improving. Weight gain and eating on her own are good signs. It has been so long since the other bird recovered that we cannot even remember the recovery period. Also, ...

black swan -- Connie erwig -- 1 April 2008

We were thinking the same thing. We have actually prepared a protected area on the bank of their pond and hope to put her there with her mate George ASAP. He has started following the mallards ...

black swan -- The Regal Swan -- 2 April 2008

Hi Connie: Thanks for the update. Seems she may be getting a little stronger. The Regal Swan

Cub's behavior, Feeding and What to do before a Hurricane -- Anna -- 27 March 2008

Hello, I am an American residing in the Alsace area (Kembs, France) and have been delighted over the years with the beauty, grace, and tranquility of our non-captive mute swans. For the second year, ...

Cob's behavior, Feeding & What to do before a hurricane -- The Regal Swan -- 27 March 2008

Hi Anna: Great questions and photo! First, there is no telling why the cob did not strike out. Some cobs, after contributing to the nesting/mating process, settle down and lose their territorialism. ...

Brown tipped feathers -- Jeanne Moore -- 22 March 2008

We have a male mute swan with light brown tipped feathers. It looks like he got them dirty going into bushes or rubbing against something, however, it has not washed off in the lake during his ...

Brown-tipped feathers -- The Regal Swan -- 23 March 2008

Hi Jeanne: Good question. Sounds like either the pink feather syndrome or just some grass/mud stains. The pink feather syndrome will usually moult out, but some residue may stay and interact with ...

Brown tipped feathers -- Jeanne Moore -- 23 March 2008

Thank you for your prompt response. We will wait till nesting season is over, then attempt to clean his feathers. I have a small parrot that gets this from time to time and usually goes away on it's ...

head & neck shaking before death -- sonia mesry -- 18 March 2008

dear regal swan.....i was wondering if you could help me with an answer? as you know from a past post i lost our big, brave valentino, he was 7 years old and juliet's 4th mate in 9 years. we think a ...

Head and neck shaking before death -- The Regal Swan -- 18 March 2008

Hi Sonia: Without a necropsy, we would only be hypothesizing about the cause of death. There could be a number of factors, internal trauma, neurological damage, the list could go on. If he was in ...

swan swimming in circles -- Connie erwig -- 17 March 2008

Please help! We have a yound Australian Black Swan swimming in circles and slamming her head on the water. She will not eat. She is one year old. She was attacked 3 weeks ago by a coyote with no ...

swan swimming in circles -- The Regal Swan -- 17 March 2008

Hi Connie: We have experienced something similar. A young mute swan was attacked by an alligator and the wound extended from the neck to the breast. Prior to our veterinarians' intervention, the swan ...

Black swan -- Connie erwig -- 18 March 2008

Thank you for responding. The good news is Louise made it through the night. The doctor is testing her for bacterial infection from the coyote attack a few weeks ago. We are happy she is still alive, ...

Black Swan -- The Regal Swan -- 18 March 2008

Great news Connie. Thanks for the update. Keep us posted. The Regal Swan

De-sexing a female swan -- sarah -- 16 March 2008

Hi Again, I have asked a woman I know who runs an animal rescue her opinion of de-sexing a female swan. She contacted a vet she has worked with for many years, and he can perform what he calls a ...

De-sexing a female swan -- The Regal Swan -- 16 March 2008

Hi Sarah: Again, we agree with the veterinarian. This is not a good way of handling the situation. If you place two females swans, un-neutered on the pond, how are the going to produce fertile eggs? ...

Desexing the female swan -- Sarah -- 17 March 2008

Well, this was another point that I brought up with the neighbor who insists on getting the swans neutered. I think it kind of scared him when I said mute swans happily pair for life and have ...

Swans for Small Lake -- Kate -- 14 March 2008

Dear Regal Swan, I live on a small lake in Orange County NC (approximately 200 acres). Currently we have lots of waterfowl, but mostly Canada Geese, Mallards, Wood Ducks (other wild ducks) and a ...

Swans for Small Lake -- The Regal Swan -- 15 March 2008

Hi Kate: Great question. There are several factors that need to be considered in your situation. First, you need to contact the North Carolina Fish & Wildlife Commission to see if you can place swans ...

Mute swans in apt. complex -- Sarah -- 14 March 2008

Regal Swan, I guess my name has gotten out within my area as the person who loves to care for swans. I got a call from an apartment complex today from an employee who works there. She's very worried ...

Mute Swans in Apartment Complex -- The Regal Swan -- 14 March 2008

Hi Sarah: You are dealing with several legal issues in this instance. We will not provide any legal advice on what you should do, but can provide some generalities of issues you might be facing: 1. ...

Mute swans in apt. complex -- sarah -- 15 March 2008

Hello, I suspected as much with the criminal liability issue. Thanks for reminding me. I went to survey the situation yesterday. Basically, there is an apartment complex built around a very small ...

Mute Swans in Apt. Complex -- The Regal Swan -- 16 March 2008

Hi Sarah: Basically, you are correct in your assessment. Angel wing can be caused by too much protein in the diet and can "usually" be corrected by adding alfalfa to the diet. However, alfalfa, like ...

re: apt swans -- sarah -- 16 March 2008

Thanks for your response. I visited the complex again yesterday and talked to some of the apt. residents about the swans. I met one woman who was particularly concerned about their care and ...

re: apt swans -- The Regal Swan -- 16 March 2008

Hi Sarah: We are in agreement with the veterinarian. Neutering is not a great answer for a swan. The following is the reasoning behind states trying to eradicate the Mute Swan: Mute swans are not ...

apt. swans -- Sarah -- 17 March 2008

Thank you!! I am so totally in agreement with everything you said in your last post!! In fact, I am going to take the alligator argument to my state with the goal of getting an exception in the state ...

apt. swans -- The Regal Swan -- 17 March 2008

Hi Sarah: Glad to help. The Regal Swan

Press Release - October 18 Swan Festival and Swan Soiree -- The Regal Swan® -- 13 March 2008

For Immediate Release The Regal Swan® contact: Shirley Bolin Tel.: (407) 931-6838 Email: Bolin.S@att.net www.theregalswan.com ________________________________ Orange Lake contact: Stacey Sutherland ...

captive swan feeding,care -- Jackie -- 11 March 2008

The facility that I work for purchased 2 swans for adornment and to discourage canadian geese from taking over the lake. The lake, is not actually a true lake, but somewhat of a man made lake from a ...

captive swan feeding,c are -- The Regal Swan -- 12 March 2008

Hi Jackie: You are absolutely correct. If the birds are pinioned, they are no longer wild and are considered "captive", therefore, they must be supplementally fed and maintained. Instead of duck ...

captive swan feeding,care -- Jackie -- 12 March 2008

Thank you so much for your response. I plan to take your information to our administration, so we can start taking care our 2 mute swans the way they should be taken care of. They are so beautiful ...

Lone male mute swan's behavior/sounds he makes -- Sarah -- 9 March 2008

Hi there, I have written before about lone male swan who lost his female mate in December. I have had him on a steady diet of poultry pellets and cracked corn, as instructed in your Swan Keeper's ...

Lone Male Mute Swans/ Behavior/Sounds He Makes -- The Regal Swan -- 10 March 2008

Hi Sarah: You actually stated the obvious in your letter. Mr. Lovey Dovey thinks you are now his swan mate!! Yes, swans imprint and this is one of the drawbacks of imprinting in that swans can ...

RE: Swans -- Rosa S. Gaona -- 27 February 2008

who owns the wild swans in the United States?

Re: Swans -- The Regal Swan -- 28 February 2008

Hi Rosa: Great question. There is no real ownership of wild swans in the U.S. The indigenous (native) trumpeter and tundra swans fall under the Federal Migratory Bird Act and are provided protection ...

father swan has passed away. -- sonia mesry -- 27 February 2008

dear regal swan experts, here i am again needing your help. sadly..we lost our big brave father swan valentino this past sunday. we are not sure what caused his demise..we think a coyote or turtle. ...

After father swan's death -- The Regal Swan -- 29 February 2008

Hi Sonia: We are so sorry to hear of your loss. The best scenario in this situation is to bring back the daughter. Although a male will be much stronger to protect a female, you would need to find a ...

Nesting -- Michelle Melton -- 24 February 2008

We have a 4 year old pair of mute swans. This will be the first nesting season that we have had them. When should we put out nesting supplies for them, and how soon can we expect them to nest? We ...

Nesting -- Admin -- 25 February 2008

Hello Michelle, The Regal Swan group is traveling this week; they asked me, from the road, to post these notes in response to your question: "Our Mute Swans are also getting restless. We have already ...

Nesting -- Michelle Melton -- 2 March 2008

Thanks for the advice. We put a ble of straw out for our swans yesterday. They have been exploring and arranging it.

Nesting -- The Regal Swan -- 3 March 2008

Hi Michelle: The swans should start arranging the hay into a nest very shortly. Good luck. The Regal Swan

More nesting questions -- Michelle Melton -- 11 March 2008

My cob is getting increasingly aggressive. He never was aggressive before, so I assume it is due to mating season. How long will this be his disposition? Will he begin to settle down once the pen is ...

More Nesting questions -- The Regal Swan -- 12 March 2008

Hi Michelle: Oh yes! Welcome to our world. Mr. "I now own the lake and anything around it" is showcasing proper swan behavior for the mating and nesting season. This will continue until the cygnets ...

More nesting questions -- Michelle -- 12 March 2008

Thanks for the advice. I have tried swinging a white towel, but seems to make him more agitated. I will try having my husband help.

Nesting update -- Michelle -- 7 April 2008

Thanks for your great advice and guidance as we experience our first nesting season! We are excited that our pen has laid 6 eggs. In addition to being able to ask questions, I enjoy reading what ...

Nesting update -- The Regal Swan -- 7 April 2008

Hi Michelle: Great photo and nice clutch. Hopefully, you will get a good number of hatchlings this year. Thanks for the nice comments. The Regal Swan.

introducing a female cygnet to a new adult male -- sonia mesry -- 10 February 2008

dear regal swan....hello again. we need some serious help here in atlanta. ga. you have advised me many times over the years and i am again in need of your expertise.recently, I had a female cygnet ...

Introducing a female cygnet to a new adult male -- The Regal Swan -- 11 February 2008

Hi Sonia: It is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT to keep them separated. The male will try to mate and if she is only 1 year of age, he can hurt her. She is not ready to mate. You need to keep them separated ...

thanks again for your advise -- sonia mesry -- 11 February 2008

dear regal swan project.....many thanks for your help. you are always quick to respond.. i will forward this information to the new owners. should we have given the female cygnet to the new owners at ...

thanks again for your advice -- The Regal Swan -- 11 February 2008

Hi Sonia: No, timing would not have changed this situation. It is mating season and the cygnet would still be too young to have the male try to mate with her. He needs a female swan about 3+ years of ...

introducing a female cygnet to new adult male -- al cook -- 12 February 2008

Regal Swan, I'am the family that has taken on Sonia's female cygnet. I understand the mating issues/problems between the the male adult and young cygnet. The remaining questions I have are when to ...

Introducting a female cygnet to new adult male -- The Regal Swan -- 12 February 2008

Hi Al: Great question. No, you do not need to continually reintroduce the female. Even though swans will mate throughout the year, mating/nesting season (for mute swans- February-March) is the most ...

swan behavior -- Kay -- 8 February 2008

I lost my male mute swan last July. The female has been by herself since then. I have been looking for a male mute swan and finally found one. The new male came as a pair with a female Australian ...

Swan behavior -- The Regal Swan -- 9 February 2008

Hi Kay: Glad to heard that your female swan has found a new mate. Unfortunately, the mute swans are not going to be too kind to a lone female. You have two options, find a mate for the Australian ...

Swan behavior -- Kay -- 10 February 2008

Thank you so much for the answers. I have also ordered the Swan Keepers Handbook, which should be arriving any day. I had the previous pair for almost 4 years before the male died and did not have ...

Swan Behavior -- The Regal Swan -- 11 February 2008

Hi Kay: Each swan species and individual swan has different personalities, so we're not sure that the two female species would accept each other. In most cases, they would probably pal around ...

Average life span of a swan -- G. Combs -- 4 February 2008

What is the average life span of a typical swan?

Average Life span of a swan -- The Regal Swan -- 4 February 2008

Great question. A captive swan with very good care can live up to 30 years. We're not sure that the life span of a wild swan could be readily documented due to lack of record keeping, predation, etc. ...

Lone male swan questions -- Sarah -- 1 February 2008

Hi there, I wrote you a couple of months ago when our male swan's mate passed away. We have not reintroduced another mate or friend for him because of the change in laws in my state. What my question ...

Lone Male Swan Questions -- The Regal Swan -- 1 February 2008

Hi Sarah: Great questions. This is one of those cases that no matter what you do, it may be the wrong thing. So, let's look as some options and see if we can come up with some viable alternatives. 1. ...

Cold weather but no lake freeze -- Sarah -- 2 February 2008

Dear Regal Swan, Thanks so much for your counsel on swan care for our lone male, Prince. It doesn't appear that the lake will freeze again this season, fingers crossed, but the weather is now very ...

Cold weather but no lake freeze -- The Regal Swan -- 3 February 2008

Hi Sarah: God gave the animals and birds fur, down and feathers to keep them warm. 35 degrees may seem cold to us, but if this is the weather that is normally found in your area during the winter, ...

Swan winter care -- Sharon Palmeter -- 28 January 2008

I live in the Cincinnati area of OH. Our neighborhood has a swan and I am not sure what kind of swan it is. Over the past few years, the swan has had a temporary straw shelter which is open on both ...

Swan winter care -- The Regal Swan -- 28 January 2008

Hi Sharon: Thanks for the great question. First, regardless of species, all swans, birds and animals need shelter from wind, rain or extreme heat. If there is no natural shelter, i.e., trees, bushes, ...

younger male cygnet and aggressive father. -- sonia mesry -- 18 January 2008

hello again! thanks for all of your swan advice over the years! as you suggested...i have found a temporary home for the young male cygnet. so far, daddy swan has not been mean to the 10 month old ...

Reply from The Regal Swan - 8-10 acre lake -- Admin -- 18 January 2008

Hello Sonia, The Regal Swan mentioned the following about your last post Sonia: They did not know that your lake was as large as 8-10 acres. They believe that you could keep the young male and female ...

Breeding -- Betty -- 15 January 2008

We have had our first and only cygnet. Hatched May 10, 2007. My pond is one acre. Must I get rid of our first born before breeding season? I don't know the sex and it was pinioned. Many thanks for ...

Breeding -- The Regal Swan -- 16 January 2008

Hi Betty: A one acre pond can probably sustain 2 pairs of swans, but then you will have a bigger issue within the next few years: What to do with all of the cygnets? Our best advice would be to find ...

black swans needing relocation/rescue -- lisa sommer -- 17 January 2008

Duck Rescue source has passed this along. "there is a rehabber in ohio known as the swan lady. That is The Swan Lady (330)468-5238 Even if she is too far to travel too, she will advise and help you, ...

Listings *Link* -- Duck Rescue -- 15 July 2008

There is a listing of people willing to help with waterfowl on the Duck Rescue Forums www.duckrescue.org there is also a listing of people willing to adopt birds and help with placement if you have ...

father swan being MEAN to young cygnet -- sonia mesry -- 14 January 2008

dear regal swan, please help me!! i am confused as what to do. we have a pair of swans that had babies in the spring of 2007. the cygnets are now almost 10 months old. the father swan is being VERY ...

father swan being Mean to young cygnet -- The Regal Swan -- 14 January 2008

Hi Sonia: Unfortunately, you will need to not only give away the male, but also the female juvenile. Unless your lake is extremely huge like Lake Morton (40 acres), there is going to be consistent ...

swan rescue -- lisa sommer -- 16 January 2008

Sonia, I dont know where you are but this gentleman JACK LONG'S Exotic Birds and Waterfowl jack@creeksidebirds.com 415-663-1650 (phone) 415-663-1968 (fax) P.O. Box 162, Point Reyes Station, CA 94956 ...

(Message Deleted by Poster) -- Cockrum -- 13 January 2008

Incubation period -- The Regal Swan -- 14 January 2008

Hi Cockrum: Great questions!! 1. The pen is probably not intentionally smashing the eggs. Swans are notorious for their clumsy heavy big feet. As they walk around the nest, it is not unusual to have ...

Prince Picture -- Sarah -- 8 January 2008

Victory posturing....

Princess swan -- Sarah -- 8 January 2008

This was Prince's mate whp passed away on Dec. 4th.

How many pounds of food do swans require per day? -- Sarah -- 6 January 2008

Hi there, This is a question about "lone male swan" again. Actually his name is Prince. Prince's mate has been deceased exactly a month now, so I have made regular trips to my dok to see him. The ...

How many pounds of food does a swan require per day -- The Regal Swan -- 7 January 2008

Hi Sarah: Great question, although there is probably no real answer. Swans feed continuously day and night. They eat supplemental foods in captive settings such as the poultry layer pellets, cracked ...

Swan behaviour @ Lost Lagoon -- Greg Valou -- 2 January 2008

Hi, Recently I started visiting the Lagoon regularly in the evenings, and every time I notice, or am noticed by, a swan which proceeds to swim up to wherever I am standing. I'm farily certain it is ...

Swan behaviour at Lost Lagoon -- Fiona -- 2 January 2008

Hi, Greg, It sounds as if the swan thinks you may have food to offer, if you're spending any length of time along the shore. The swans are fed twice a day in the Winter under the direction of the ...

Congratulations Greg -- Sarah -- 6 January 2008

Hi Greg, It sounds to me like the swan has definately taken a liking to you and what a wonderful thing. I only "discovered" swans two years ago when my husband and I moved into a lake community. ...

Swan Behavior at Lost Lagoon -- The Regal Swan -- 2 January 2008

Hi Greg: Fiona would know more about the specific swans at Lost Lagoon than we, however, what she has described is pretty much true to swans in various captive habitats. As Fiona explains, no one ...

Mute swan lost his mate -- Sarah -- 27 December 2007

Hello, We live in a lake community with a pair of bonded mute swans. The female passed away three weeks ago and the male is having a hard time. It is illegal in our state to replace the swan, so ...

(Message Deleted by Poster) -- Brandon -- 26 December 2007

Proper food? -- The Regal Swan -- 26 December 2007

Hi Brandon: Thanks for the question. Go to a local feed store and buy some cracked corn and poultry layer pellets. Mix 1/2 cracked corn to 1/2 poultry layer pellets. We are assuming that these might ...

Feeding Swans -- Gordon -- 29 May 2008

Our pair is back gain for the fourth or fifth season (I forget) and this year they have eight cygnets. We are feeding them dog food again - is this wrong? On another subject - the male has been ...

Feeding swans -- The Regal Swan -- 29 May 2008

Hi Gordon: Dog food is NOT the best food for them. It is too high in protein and many think that this is what causes "angel wing" also called "slipped wing, reverse wing", etc. The birds will develop ...

Enquiry on building a floating swan nest -- Lucy -- 17 December 2007

I have a breeding pair of mute swans on an 80 acre lake. Over the past 5 years, coyotes have killed 15 swans defending their nests. I want to build a floating swan nest about 20 feet from shore but I ...

Inquiry on building a floating swan nest -- The Regal Swan -- 17 December 2007

Hi Lucy: Good question. We think we have a couple of answers for you, but before we reply, we need to know more about your lake and the surrounding habitat. How deep is the lake? How wide is the lake ...

swan protection -- lisa sommer -- 17 December 2007

http://www.niteguard.com/index.html i am thinking about this product in addition to a floating island of some sort.... will be interested to see if anyone has a solution to your problem

Humane winter standards for mute swans -- Letitia -- 5 December 2007

I was wondering if you could tell me what would be minimum humane requirements for a mute swan in the winter. I am writing from Brattleboro, Vermont, where a hotel keeps a lone mute swan on a small ...

Humane Winter Standards for Mute Swans -- The Regal Swan -- 5 December 2007

Hi Letitia: Great question as we hear this repeated more than once during the course of the winter. Although we are not legal experts and state laws differ from state to state, we do not wish to even ...

Mute Swans -- Doris -- 2 December 2007

I have 3 young swans on my lake. 2 males and 1 female. They are approximately 6 months old. Will they be able to live together or, will one of the males be killed by the other, when they are old ...

Mute Swans -- The Regal Swan -- 3 December 2007

Hi Doris: Great question. The major issues are whether these swans are captive or wild? Are they pinioned/clipped in other words, can they fly? Where are you located? Are you located near ...

Mute Swans -- Doris -- 3 December 2007

Thanks for the quick response. All three swans are pinioned. They live on a 5 acre lake in Wichita, Kansas. No other swans are in the area. I would be willing to get another female but, have heard ...

Mute Swans -- The Regal Swan -- 3 December 2007

Hi Doris: Not likely that they will destroy each other. 5 acres is more than ample to host 4 swans. However, there will be an issue as you get more cygnets if you have two mating pairs. Even if you ...

Mute Swans -- Doris -- 3 December 2007

None of the three are from the same nest. Would that matter if we remove the female? If we did have 2 pair, could the cignets be pinioned at 1 day old and moved to a safe pond/lake at about 4 months ...

Mute Swans -- The Regal Swan -- 4 December 2007

Hi Doris: As long as the males are about the same age and are hanging around together right now, there should not be a problem in keeping the males and removing the female. There would also not be a ...

Mute Swans -- Doris -- 4 December 2007

You have put my mind at ease!! Thank you so much for your help. I'm sure I'll be in touch again. Doris

Mute Swans -- The Regal Swan -- 5 December 2007

Hi Doris: You are very welcome. Anytime you have a question, please feel free to write. The Regal Swan.

winter care -- Rick Osborne -- 12 November 2007

We live in southern Michigan near Lansing. We have a two acre pond, and a mute swan (one) showed up here about three months ago. She seems to be fairly tame, and looks like she is planning on staying ...

winter care -- The Regal Swan -- 13 November 2007

Hi Rick: Good question. We spoke with one of our swan veterinarians, Dr. Geoffrey Gardner. It seems that the swan is more used to people providing its supplemental food and care and not entirely ...

The highest height mute swans fly to -- conor fitzsimons -- 30 October 2007

Dear Sir/Madam, I would like to know the height Mute Swans fly at, normal flying heights and the highest height the fly to?? Do they pose a threat to aircraft? Thank you for your assistance Conor ...

The highest height mute swans fly to -- The Regal Swan -- 30 October 2007

Hi Conor: Great question. Right off the bat, we have no specific answers to these questions unless we do some research. We deal primarily with captive swans therefore, the birds are pinioned or ...

Lake Eola Park Swans Given Veterinary Exams by The Regal Swan® -- The Regal Swan® -- 30 October 2007

PRESS RELEASE Contact: Shirley Bolin The Regal Swan® Phone: 407-931-6838 E-mail: bolin.s@att.net www.theregalswan.com ORLANDO, FLORIDA—October 30, 2007—The 1st Annual Veterinary Medical Exam ...

swan behavior -- Ron Thomas -- 27 October 2007

On the stretch of river I walk every day(about 1/2 mile) there are usually 1 pair of swans. Every year about this time, about 30-40 other swans appear overnight, and all gather together. They stay ...

swan behavior -- The Regal Swan -- 28 October 2007

Hi Ron: Great question. The swans are migratory birds and may be leaving eastern Europe for the U.K. or other favorable wintering locations. If they spot other swans, they may come in for a visit ...

Wildfires & Swans -- The Regal Swan -- 22 October 2007

Today, Sarah, Stanley-Park-Swans website administrator, was contacted by Colleen regarding the current wildfires in California. Both inquired as to what should be done for captive pinioned swans in ...

GREAT ADVICE, Thank you -- Colleen -- 23 October 2007

Fortunately the fire near our lake has been 100% contained and we just took a drive around (2am here but I couldn't sleep until I knew how close these fires actually were)... we are getting a ton of ...

Great Advice. Thank You! -- The Regal Swan -- 23 October 2007

Hi Colleen. You are very welcome. Just glad that you all are safe and did not have to evacuate. The Regal Swan

swan fathers and babies -- Ann-Marie -- 22 October 2007

Someone told me that the male swans often kill their young due to jealousy and attention from the wife/mother. Is this true?

swan fathers and babies -- The Regal Swan -- 22 October 2007

Hi Ann-Marie: Great question. In our experience, this is not true. A male swan will try to kill a cygnet if the cygnet is from another brood and gets too close to the male's family members ...

Incredible Website!! -- Judy Bauer -- 17 October 2007

\-|"> This site is wonderful! I have had a pair of mute swans for the last four years. I stumbled onto your website two days ago and have learned more about them in those two days than I have since I ...

Incredible Website -- The Regal Swan -- 17 October 2007

Hi Judy: Thank you for the great comments. However, all the credit goes to Sarah & Fiona at the Stanley-Park-Swans website. If they had not persevered to continue this educational outlet, we would ...

Duck Rescue Network -- Jennifer Gordon -- 12 October 2007

If this post is inappropriate please feel free to delete it. I just cant help but noticing that many people are trying to care for birds by themselves. Its always best to take a sick animal to a ...

Duck Rescue Network -- The Regal Swan -- 12 October 2007

Hi Jennifer: We probably have already addressed this issue in the previous email, but would like to clarify some topics. First, it is usually illegal to possess any wildlife, birds or otherwise in ...

(Message Deleted by Poster) -- Jennifer Gordon -- 15 October 2007

Duck Rescue Network -- The Regal Swan -- 15 October 2007

Hi Jennifer: Not a problem. Thanks for the clarification. The Regal Swan

(Message Deleted by Poster) -- Jennifer Gordon -- 12 October 2007

Swan placement -- The Regal Swan -- 12 October 2007

Hi Jennifer: Without seeing the injury, many questions come to mind before we even discuss the possibility of turning this bird over to any facility or specific location. Tonight, one of our swan ...

swan placement -- Jennifer Gordon -- 15 October 2007

Thanks this situation is resolved.

swan placement -- The Regal Swan -- 15 October 2007

Hi Jennifer. Great to hear. Thanks. The Regal Swan

cygnets beaks changing color. -- SONIA MESRY -- 1 October 2007

hi there! i recently had to capture two 5 month old cygnets here in atlanta. they had a vet appt the next morning to have their wings pinioned. we kept them in the garage overnite with a fan and our ...

cygnets beak changing color -- The Regal Swan -- 1 October 2007

Hi Sonia: Great photo and question. Did the beaks go back to the grey color once they returned outside? If so, we're not sure why this happened. Most of the time, the beaks do turn the reddish/orange ...

Swan Feeding -- Gary Warren -- 17 September 2007

Is there any seed that we can feed some swans? Would pregerminated seed be best?

Swan Feeding -- The Regal Swan -- 22 September 2007

Hi Gary: Swans are basically grazers (grasses and aquatic plants) and will inadvertantly pick-up seeds while feeding. However, unlike the pssiticines (cockatiels, parakeets, etc.), seeds are not a ...

Swans needing fresh water -- aimee -- 16 March 2008

I have 2 swans that are wild on a salt water lake...Ifeed them cracked corn and poultry pelets but they do need fresh water. Can I give it to them some how or do they go get it on their own? Will ...

Swans needing fresh water -- The Regal Swan -- 16 March 2008

Hi Aimee: Since we are not sure exactly where you are located or the swans species, we are going to respond in general terms. If the swans are black-necked swans, from South America, they sometimes ...

Swans flight -- Argyris Argyrou -- 17 September 2007

Dear Sir/Madam, Let me first congratulate you for your web-page. I have a simple question. Can swans take off from solid ground? I think they can take off only from water, but I am not sure. Thank ...

Swans flight -- The Regal Swan -- 17 September 2007

Hi Argyris: Thank you for the interesting question. Usually, most people see swans in water and therefore, consider that the birds exclusively stay in water. However, swans are grazers and will eat ...

Feeding and Veterinary Medical Program at Lake Eola, FL -- The Regal Swan® -- 20 August 2007

Contact: Shirley Bolin Phone: 407-931-6838 E-mail: Bolin.S @att.net www.theregalswan.com The Regal Swan® to Implement Feeding and Veterinary Medical Program for Swans at Orlando's Lake Eola ...

swan feeder -- SONIA MESRY -- 22 August 2007

i have a question? how high does the feeder need to be in the lake and also...how do you train the swans to eat out of the feeders?? i have bought one here in ga...just need to know what to do next? ...

swan feeder -- The Regal Swan -- 22 August 2007

Hi Sonia: Great question because we are dealing with this one for Lake Eola. First, the feeder pole must sit 3 feet from the bank in the water so that predators can't get to the food. The pole needs ...

Day #5 - Swans at the Moscow Zoo -- Journal of Shirley Bolin, Member of the Regal Swan®, Traveling in Moscow -- 20 August 2007

I’ve managed to photograph a good deal of the zoo’s swans today along with some added shots throughout the city. One swan really captured my enthusiasm. It’s a Bewick that has attached itself to a ...

Day #4 - Patriarch Pond and Gorky Park -- Journal of Shirley Bolin, Member of the Regal Swan®, Traveling in Moscow -- 20 August 2007

The sun has finally started to break through the clouds, but it is still raining sporadically. Nikolai is taking me to both Patriarch Pond and Gorky Park today. Although, as a photographer, I wish I ...

winter shelter -- wilma cury -- 17 August 2007

Hello, I am thrilled to have found your web site. Please tell me what type of shelter we should use for winter. My husband and I have had our swans since March and we love them! Their names are ...

winter shelter -- The Regal Swan -- 19 August 2007

Hi Wilma: Thanks for the great question. Swans do not like boxes like ducks, bats, etc. Therefore, they are not going to be too crazy about going into something the size of a large dog kennel. ...

Raising Swans -- Laura Johnson -- 15 August 2007

We are looking into buying 2 mute swans. In the past, we have tried raising ruan ducks, however, raccoons and coyotes have killed them. Will we have a problem with them attacking the swans? We also ...

Raising Swans -- The Regal Swan -- 16 August 2007

Hi Laura: Thanks for the questions. Yes, you will have the same problem with the raccoons and coyotes. They will eat the swan eggs and kill the cygnets. A large coyote will also kill the parent ...

your response -- connie erwig -- 7 August 2007

To let you know all 5 cygnets in question are still with their parents, growing fast and very healthy. We decided not to move them until they get their adult feathers. The vet has taught us to ...

your response -- The Regal Swan -- 16 August 2007

Hi Connie: This is great news. Glad you are having so much success. The Regal Swan

BIG SWAN is out of sorts -- Colleen -- 5 August 2007

I'm worried about Big Swan. When I go out to feed he doesn't get up anymore, and when I go to deliver food to him he does get up but he doesn't talk to me, and when he tries to talk it sounds STUFFY. ...

Big Swan is out of sorts -- The Regal Swan -- 6 August 2007

Hi Colleen. The weather and heat does affect the swans. They get lethargic just like the rest of us in the heat. If he is moulting, he has no desire to get into a fight with you or anyone else. This ...

WHEW -- Colleen -- 6 August 2007

Thank you so much... I feel so much better hearing that!! -Colleen

BIG SWAN IS BETTER -- Colleen -- 7 August 2007

He seemed to have a very good day... He had a very long grooming and diving session and everything seemed normal again. Also the heat subsided today, so I'm certain it was a heat-induced issue. ...

Big Swan is Better -- The Regal Swan -- 16 August 2007

Hi Colleen: Glad to hear that Big Swan is much better. It probably was a combination of heat and the moult. The Regal Swan

BIG SWAN Hissing again -- Colleen -- 17 August 2007

Yes... he's much better lol

Day #3 - Meeting with the Curator of the Moscow Zoo -- Journal of Shirley Bolin, Member of the Regal Swan®, Traveling in Moscow -- 26 July 2007

It has been raining all morning. I am scheduled to meet with the Zoo's curator this morning. We are going to look at some of the swan areas on the 22 hectare property. Sorry, I don't have my ...

Day #2 - Veterinarian Hospital And Breeding Station Of The Moscow Zoo -- Journal of Shirley Bolin, Member of the Regal Swan®, Traveling in Moscow -- 25 July 2007

I have a 9:15 a.m. meeting with Moscow Zoo head veterinarian, Michael. I wander around the zoo for a few minutes before heading over to the veterinary hospital. There isn't anyone around. I wait for ...

Day #1 - Meeting with Moscow Zoo Officials -- Journal of Shirley Bolin, Member of the Regal Swan®, Traveling in Moscow -- 25 July 2007

It is very hot here in Moscow, unlike the weather we had in England which was cold and rainy. This is already turning into quite and exciting trip. My friend, Dr. Nikolai Puchkov and the Moscow Zoo ...

Day # 5 - Swan Upping At The Abbotsbury Swannery -- Journal of The Regal Swan® Group Traveling in the UK -- 21 July 2007

Up Early: Well, our trip to England is coming to a close. We have packed all of our gear and set it aside at the hotel so that it will be ready for the bus later this afternoon. It is now 5:30 a.m. ...

oh my god in heaven -- Colleen -- 5 August 2007

and I thought I was the swan whisperer managing one agressive male... i can't even believe my eyes. I want to come help next year, but would it impede the process to have to save one clueless kayaker ...

Swan Round up 2007 -- Lyn Roe -- 21 June 2008

My friend & I were priveledged to be asked to help with this event last year and we both agreed that it was one of the most wonderful experiences of our lives. We saw that a film was being made and ...

Swan Round-up 2007 -- The Regal Swan -- 21 June 2008

Hi Lynn: There were many cameras there for the event, especially from Europe and specifically England. So, if they ran the program, we would not have an idea. We haven't heard from anyone regarding a ...

Day # 4 - Using Kayakers to Round Up Swans for Capture, Medical Exams -- Journal of The Regal Swan® Group Traveling in the UK -- 20 July 2007

Heavy Rain: It is 6:30 a.m. Outside it is pouring down rain and quite cold. Sheila and Shirley have decided to take a chance and are heading to the Abbotsbury swannery. David Wheeler had stated last ...

Day #3 - At The Abbotsbury Swannery -- Journal of The Regal Swan® Group Traveling in the UK -- 19 July 2007

Trip From London to Abbotsbury: We packed up our gear and headed to Abbotsbury today. The trip took about three hours and we dropped our bags in the hotel at Dorchester and immediately grabbed a cab ...

Day #2 - The Royal Swan Upping along the Thames -- Journal of The Regal Swan® Group Traveling in the UK -- 19 July 2007

Royal Swan Upping: It’s another early morning. The centuries-old tradition of holding the Royal Swan Upping along the Thames is scheduled for this morning. Shirley is on the Queen’s media boat down ...

Day #1 (Part 1) - Visiting Windsor Castle and The Swan Lifeline Rescue Ctr *Link* -- Journal of The Regal Swan® Group Traveling in the UK -- 17 July 2007

We are headed to Windsor Castle this morning and then over to Swan Lifeline Rescue Center. Swan Washing - BBC Show: We are going to meet Andy and Shirley there along with Wendy Hermon, from the ...

Day #1 (Part 2) of the trip - Emergency: Oil Spill in Reading *Link* -- Journal of The Regal Swan® Group Traveling in the UK -- 17 July 2007

The Oil Spill: During the ceremony (toast to the Queen), Wendy alerts Sheila that there has been an emergency and they need help. An oil spill was just reported with about six swans affected. She ...

Swan Feeding? -- Nancy -- 13 July 2007

I have read the answer to the feeding question but if I am coming to the park to enjoy hand feeding the swans, (I did this as a young woman in the 70's and felt like a princess, or Snow White in the ...

The Regal Swan Group will respond during their trip overseas -- Site Admin -- 13 July 2007

Hello Nancy The Regal Swan Group is presently traveling (we will post some pictures of their travels within a few weeks) and they will be responding to each post on this message board during their ...

What to Feed Swans -- The Regal Swan -- 17 July 2007

Hi Nancy; Thanks for the question. We would suggest cracked corn and layer pellets (mixed) and/or lettuce. Lettuce may be an acquired taste and the swans may take a while to get used to it. ...

Swans Resting Leg on Back -- alex moran -- 12 July 2007

recently i observed swans swimming in a bay in Long Island. They lifted their left legs to rest them on their backs. Why? Our theories: swan yoga, solar collection, fish tickling toes.

Why Swans Rest Leg on Back -- The Regal Swan -- 12 July 2007

Hi Alex: Great question. There are two possible normal reasons that swans place one of their legs on their back. The first reason would be for resting. The second reason would be possible heat ...

Staying too long on the nest. -- Shirley Jones -- 3 July 2007

My husband and I purchased a pair of Swans this spring. The pair built their nest in a 3/4 surrounding nesting box. The front is open to the water. All was well and the Pen laid 6 eggs. Around mid ...

Staying too long on the nest -- The Regal Swan -- 3 July 2007

Hi Shirley: Thanks for the question. It is highly unlikely that a raccoon ate the cygnets. Raccoons, opossums, skunks, snakes and foxes will eat the eggs. Foxes and other predators such as coyotes, ...

The little cygnet didn't make it -- Colleen -- 24 June 2007

Just wanted to let you know, he didn't make it. My friend at animal control says he caught cold, and shouldn't have been swimming, since he probably had the cold when I took him in... he'd been ...

The little cygnet didn't make it -- The Regal Swan -- 25 June 2007

Hi Colleen: Sorry to hear the sad news. We know how you feel. Unfortunately, even with the best of care, outcomes that we would not anticipate or wish do happen. We had a case like this many years ...

Sickness -- Alex -- 23 June 2007

I am a new swan owner and just like to know what are the common ailments and the preventive measures that you would advice me to be on the look out when raising swan?

Sickness - Various Swan Ailments -- The Regal Swan -- 23 June 2007

Hi Alex: The ailments are too numerous to mention, but we will try to provide you with the most common ailments which you may readily see. It would also be beneficial to know where you are located ...

Feeding swan cygnets + other waterfowl -- judy plater -- 13 June 2007

i work in a theme park which has a new area, including a lake. A pair of swans have breed and hatched all 6 eggs - cygnets all ok. To encourage swans to nest initially we put down proper feed - ...

Feeding Swans & Cygnets -- The Regal Swan -- 13 June 2007

Hi Judy: Great questions. One of the all time favorite misconceptions that we hear all of the time is that one should try and get a couple of swans to remove the Canada Goose problem in areas where ...

Nesting Swans Egg Incubation -- jamie -- 4 June 2007

We have had swans on our pond here in CT for about 5 years. During year 2 and 3, the cygnets were successfully hatched and the grown birds eventually left the area. Last year and this year floods ...

Timeline: Swans Egg Incubation -- The Regal Swan -- 5 June 2007

Hi Jamie: Thanks for the great question. It is an issue that we had this year only we had a drought, not a flood. Our swans laid eggs, began to sit on the the eggs, got off, kicked some away, started ...

Update on nesting swan -- jamie -- 17 June 2007

Hi. Thanks for the great information. I have an update. As near as we can figure, the mama swan has been on the nest for a minimum of 75 days. Usually, the eggs will hatch during the last week of ...

Timeline Swan Egg Incubation -- The Regal Swan -- 18 June 2007

Hi Jamie: This is indeed a strange case. We know in research that the eggs should only take 45 days to hatch. However, with the extenuating circumstance of the flood, the human timeline may be off ...

Injury to Cygnet's Foot and Leg -- SONIA MESRY -- 3 June 2007

hello there! we have a 6 week old cygnet here in atlanta, ga. 3 days ago...mom swan was making a distressed sound and was diving her head into the lake around her. finally..the swan family came to my ...

Injured Cygnet's Foot: Treatment Guidelines -- The Regal Swan -- 3 June 2007

Hi Sonia: Great question. Thanks. We actually had a turtle shred one of our swan's feet when he was only 12 weeks of age. Our veterinarian cleaned the wound, stitched him up and the swan is now 5 ...

Injured Swan *Link* -- Jennifer Gordon -- 12 October 2007

Probably too late for this baby but you can also try the Duck Rescue Network. They have a listing of waterfowl rehabbers in the united states and many will take swans. One in GA Laura Swanson works ...

Injured Swan Link -- The Regal Swan -- 12 October 2007

Thanks Jennifer: However, we received an email from the individual regarding the cygnet and a waterfowl wildfowl trust facility has taken the cygnet into their facility. In the past few years, we ...

no kill facilities -- Jennifer Gordon -- 15 October 2007

Our shelter is no kill and takes all birds. If anyone on our list was found to have killed a swan for being non native they would be removed. I have worked at wildlife facilities that kill pigeons, ...

Injured Swan -- The Regal Swan -- 15 October 2007

Hi Jennifer: Again, thanks for the clarification. We also did not want to imply that all waterfowl rescue centers or even wildlife rehabiltation centers will kill non-native species. However, in our ...

Leaving Cygnets With Parent Swans -- Connie erwig -- 28 May 2007

We live in AZ in a retirement community and have over 30 swans on our golf courses. I am one of the volunteers that feed and care for these swans. We have several cygnets, and have been told that the ...

Cygnets and Parents, Pinioning -- The Regal Swan -- 29 May 2007

Hi Connie: Good questions! Although the mother swan may have some uropygial gland (preen) oil on her feathers, this is not the reason that she carries her young. Just like some ducks and geese, this ...

Fertility of Remaining Swan Eggs -- Colleen -- 22 May 2007

I live on a lake in Calif and we have mute swans nesting under our deck. I THOUGHT THEY WERE INFERTILE as eggs failed to hatch last year. Suddenly we have A CYGNET. Mother is clueless, dad is ...

Swan Egg Fertility: Guidelines -- The Regal Swan -- 22 May 2007

Hi Colleen: Good question. We usually wait approximately 1 week after the last hatching and then remove the eggs. If they were going to hatch, by then, they should have. Mother swan knows best. DO ...

cygnet watch -- Colleen -- 22 May 2007

THANK YOU SO MUCH! Well this pair has been together 8 or 9 yrs I'm told, and usually critters get to the eggs and they don't hatch. Because our neighbor walled-off their usual nest, we encouraged ...

Swan Parenting of New Cygnets -- The Regal Swan -- 22 May 2007

Hi Colleen: You are very welcome. As far as the mother helping them, she knows when they are hatching. We're not sure enough is known about swans to say that she will actually help open the egg or ...

ANOTHER RESCUE -- Colleen -- 23 May 2007

I just rescued this poor little guy from being attacked by HERONS while the idiot parents sat idly by... good LORD. Will look for your ramp system thread. No they don't stomp him or anything... they ...

Another Rescue -- The Regal Swan -- 23 May 2007

Hi Colleen: Yes, if the parents are ignoring him and yoiu don't want to see nature take its course, then rescuing him might be an answer. But, you are in for an unbelievable parenting experience for ...

Nature doesn't always go my way -- Colleen -- 25 May 2007

Yes, I did duck rescue for a few years at another lake so trust me, I know they aren't a parakeet but i'm absolutely unable to let nature take its course But I usually had the mothers or A mother ...

HAD TO ADOPT BABY CYGNET -- Colleen -- 31 May 2007

The situation above did not get better. I finally brought baby inside after fishing him out of lake almost dead, dried him, got cracked corn, lay pellots, greens chopped finely, also feed store said ...

Caring for Orphaned Cygnet -- The Regal Swan -- 1 June 2007

Hi Colleen: First things first. Get him/her off of the poultry mix. Too high in protein and he may develop angel wings. Monitor his feeding and his pooping. He should be doing a lot of both. Weigh ...

POOP REPORT -- Colleen -- 1 June 2007

Yes lots of poop, will get out my digital scale and increase his swims tomorrow, thank you so much for guidelines!! I will have to choose a vet so will work on that!

Would like to buy a male mute swan. We live in Bellingham WA -- Linda Thorsteinson -- 21 May 2007

Swan Ownership Issues to Consider -- The Regal Swan -- 22 May 2007

Hi Linda: Thanks for the question. Many states consider Mute Swans deleterioius exotic wildlife. Washington state has such a law and therefore prohibits the introduction, sale, possession, holding, ...

Questions on Raising Swans -- Brian -- 5 June 2007

Hi Regal Swan, I live in Australia and got an interest in raising swan. However, I have a few questions pondering at my end. 1) Do I need a permit or licensed to raise a swan? 2) Do you recommend any ...

Feasibility of Raising Swans -- The Regal Swan -- 5 June 2007

Hi Brian: Good question. We are not sure about the permits and licenses regarding breeding and keeping of swans in Australia. We do know that any swan species other than the native Black Swans would ...

baby swans -- Lisa Sommer -- 22 May 2007

Hi. May I recommend www.creeksidebirds.com based out of Northern California We had a very good experience with the owner Jack who shipped a mute to the east coast about two years ago. The bird was ...

Challenges: Raising Swans From Cygnets -- The Regal Swan -- 17 May 2007

Hi Carol: Thanks for your question. Obviously, by now, you realize the daunting task that awaits you in this new endeavor. Sometimes as hard as it is, it is actually better not to intervene. This is ...

baby swans -- Carol Nelson -- 16 May 2007

We have 6 baby Swan. Something or someone got the mother and we put the 6 eggs in an incubator. Please tell me when they can be introduced to the water,how long to let them stay,and if the father ...

Cygnets down: When does it become waterproof? -- Debbie -- 13 May 2007

how soon do cygnets dow become waterproof?

Cygnets down: When does it become waterproof? -- The Regal Swan -- 13 May 2007

Hi Debbie: Great question, although we're not sure that we are going to be very specific in our answer. But, here is what we do know based upon observation. The mother swan does not take the cygnets ...

pinioning swans -- SONIA MESRY -- 11 May 2007

hi there. we have 3 baby cygnets about 3 weeks old. we know we need to have them pinioned. we are afraid to take them away from the parent swans to take them to the vet. what do you recommend? do we ...

Cygnets: Pinioning & Removal from Parents -- The Regal Swan -- 11 May 2007

Hi Sonia: Thanks for this great question. It is one we answer very frequently. In fact, when we first started working with swans many years ago, this was the question of most concern. The cygnets ...

Swan enemies -- cody burch -- 10 May 2007

Do swans have any enemies? If they do, what?

Swans : Predators and Dangers -- The Regal Swan -- 10 May 2007

Hi Cody: Thanks for the question. Swans have many enemies. A short list would be any predator and man. Eggs are predated by raccoons, armadillos, opossums, foxes, snakes, ect. Very young cygnets are ...

Our "sterile" swans have an egg -- Andrea Williams -- 28 April 2007

We have a pair of mute swans in our pond in Kentucky. They were purchased by our homeowners asso. to keep away the canadian geese. We were told they were a sterile pair. We have had them about 2 ...

Mute Swans: Breeding, Eggs, Feeding -- The Regal Swan -- 29 April 2007

Hi Andrea: Thanks for the question. We'll answer one question at a time. First, it is physically impossible for the mallard to have done any thing with the swans. Species don't usually have this ...

Mute Swans -- Andrea Williams -- 26 May 2007

Thanks so much with the info. Its now May 25 and the eggs had disappeared from the nest. Yesterday the swans seemed to be nested and my husband went out today and all were gone. A couple of weeks ago ...

Mute Swans -- The Regal Swan -- 26 May 2007

Hi Andrea: With the presence of tennis balls in the nest, we would presume that the predator in this case is human. Swans will not place tennis balls or other such objects in their nest. The only ...

WOW -- Colleen -- 23 May 2007

Sitting still AND not biting anyone... amazing haha

Florida Swan Researchers Identify Bacterium Causing Swans To Turn Pink -- The Regal Swan ® -- 7 April 2007

April 9, 2007 For Immediate Release Contact: Shirley Bolin Telephone: (407) 931-6838 Email: Bolin.S@att.net Florida Swan Researchers Successfully Identify Bacterium Causing UK Wild Swans Along The ...

How to feed new born cygnet -- clueless -- 7 March 2007

what would you feed a swan when it hatches?

What to Feed Swans and Cygnets -- The Regal Swan -- 7 March 2007

Dear Clueless: You only think you are clueless, but you probably have a better grasp than you think!! Before we can answer this question, there needs to be an understanding of the setting in which ...

Swan population control -- Lisa Sommer -- 28 February 2007

I could use some guidance in caring for a pair of 3 yr old Mute swans, for which I am the main caregiver. I have consulted with you on feeding/habitat issues and have purchased your book, The Care of ...

Swan Population Control Guidelines -- The Regal Swan -- 28 February 2007

Hi Lisa. Thanks for the question and the update. Yes, it is sad that Maryland is still trying to cull the population, but they have been thus far unsuccessful since 2000. Most of the court suits and ...

population control -- Lisa Sommer -- 1 March 2007

Sheila, Thanks for your prompt response. Our swans have never produced offspring. The pair did begin to exhibit mating behavior last season (age 2)-a neighbor noted that one was mounting the other- I ...

Population Control -- The Regal Swan -- 1 March 2007

Hi Lisa. You are very welcome. Please let us know how the swans progress. And yes, heaven forbid that someone or something that makes millions for a state or region would have any negative statement ...

Update (disappearing eggs) -- Lisa Sommer -- 14 May 2007

Good Morning Sheila, Update on our swans: Our female laid one egg which disappeared...she then set up a second nest and dropped two eggs. We placed netting around the next area in a half circle from ...

Update Disappearing eggs -- The Regal Swan -- 14 May 2007

Hi Lisa: Sorry to hear about the eggs, but more than likely a raccoon, fox, snake, opossum, armadillo, even large birds such s fish crows, etc. took or ate the eggs. The predator will carry off the ...

WInter Care for Swans on Lake -- Audra -- 7 February 2007

There are two swans that live in a lake near my office year round. They always seem to be in the same lake and never leave, but I am not sure if they are captive swans being cared for by someone. Now ...

Winter Care - Captive or Wild Swans -- The Regal Swan -- 7 February 2007

Hi Audra: Thanks for the question. It would help us to know a little more about the area that you are located, state, country, etc., because we would be able to offer possible alternative solutions. ...

Imprinted Canada Goose in Atlanta -- sonia mesry -- 15 September 2006

hi there! i have swans, ducks and wild geese here in the atlanta. ga area. recently, i acquired a 4 month old canada goose. A client found him/her in their swimming pool as a tiny baby. They thought ...

Pinioning Imprinted Canada Goose -- The Regal Swan -- 16 September 2006

Hi Sonia: Yes, you should have one of his wing's clipped. He is probably too old to be pinioned without having him placed under anesthesia. This is an option, but there is always a chance under ...

Departure of Male Adult Swan -- patrick lynch -- 2 August 2006

The small lake in front of the house where I reside is home to two adult mute swans and four cygnets who are about nine weeks. About three weeks ago the male adult flew off and has not returned. How ...

Departure of Male Swan: Possible Causes -- The Regal Swan -- 2 August 2006

Hi Patrick: Well, this is good question, and I'm not sure that we will ever find the true answer, but here are some possibilities. Usually, a swan parent will care for the cygnets if something ...

How do swans attack? -- Scott -- 27 July 2006

Hi, Bit of a dispute.... Do swans attack with there wings or Neck/head? The real question is whether a Swan can break somones bone with there neck? Some say they attack with their neck others laugh ...

Swans' Attack Methods -- The Regal Swan -- 27 July 2006

Hi Scott: Thanks for the question. Actually, both sides of the dispute have more inaccuracies than truth. First, a swan can strike with his wings which can literally break someone's arm, leg or ribs. ...

Captive Swan Care During Extreme Weather Conditions -- The Regal Swan® -- 11 July 2006

Geoffrey R. Gardner, DVM Christopher W. Brown, DVM Fanchon F. Funk, Ed.D. Sheila A. Bolin, M.S. Rebecca Webb Wilson, J.D. Shirley A. Bolin, A.G.S Swans are regal birds adding beauty and elegance to ...

wobbly neck cygnet -- melissa -- 20 June 2006

I have four cygnets, 3 are thriving, and one seems to have no coordination. His neck goes round and he cant seem to hold his head up, it will throw its head back and fall on his back. this is very ...

Wobbly neck cygnet -- The Regal Swan -- 20 June 2006

Hi Melissa: We can only guess what might be wrong with the cygnet without having any veterinary examination. It could be some type of neurological anomaly based upon a developmental problem or it ...

Baby Swan Legs -- Edwin -- 11 June 2006

My Mom's retirement home has a pond with a pair of adult swans and four baby swans. Yesterday we were fortunate enough to be there at feeding time and enjoyed watching them eat. We noticed that after ...

Treatment of Swan Leg and Foot Problems -- The Regal Swan® -- 11 June 2006

Hi Edwin: Thanks for the question as this is one of the most frequently asked questions we receive. Many folks think that the cygnets and adults have leg or foot problems, that they might have been ...

male or female? -- natalie dutfield -- 20 May 2006

hi i was just wandering if you would be able to reply back via email for me wiv the answer to this quiestion? where i live there is a lake right in front of my house and along with geese, mallards ...

How to Tell a Swan Male From Female -- The Regal Swan® -- 21 May 2006

Dear Ms. Dutfield: A very good and common question. Usually, you can tell male swans from female swans due to the following: The male will have a larger knob (the bump on the bill) than the female. ...

Male Swan missing -- George Stiles -- 8 May 2006

Hi; In the Gorge Inlet at Christie Point in Victoria i have watch a pair of Mute Swans nest and the Male has never left it's Mate. There are six eggs on the nest with the Penn sitting on them but the ...

Male Swan Missing - Non-Interference -- The Regal Swan® -- 8 May 2006

Hi George: Usually, swans will mate for life. However, Whooper Swans have a 6% divorce rate. It depends on the individual swan as well as the swan species if the mating for life continues. Having ...

Sudden Aggressiveness -- Terry Teague -- 6 May 2006

Hi, I could use some help about my trumpeter swans I have. They are solid white female swans that when I got them their wings were clipped. Don't really know their age. I have had them now almost 4 ...

Sudden Aggressiveness - Possible Causes -- The Regal Swan® -- 7 May 2006

Thanks for the question Terry. IT IS MATING SEASON!!! We just had another swan keeper in the area tell us that her swan (usually extremely docile) and now sitting on the nest, hit her so hard that ...

Problem of Swans in National Park -- Krystal Glingle and Brooke Hershberger -- 3 May 2006

To Whoever it may concern, We are doing research over mute swans that has been causing harm to a national park, Potato Creek, and are supposed to come up with a solution to solve or eliminate the ...

Considerations: Mute Swan Populations -- The Regal Swan® -- 3 May 2006

Hi Krystal & Brooke: Thank you for your email. We deal more with captive swans, but have been in contact with many swan experts/wildlife managers etc., worldwide who have feral Mute Swan populations. ...

Florida Governor's Points of Light Award to The Regal Swan® -- The Regal Swan -- 13 April 2006

For Immediate Release Contact: Shirley Bolin Telephone: (407) 931-6838 Email: Bolin.S@att.net U.S. Congressman Tom Feeney Presents the Florida Governor's Points of Light Award to The Regal Swan®. ...

Award to The Regal Swan® re: Humane treatment of captive swans -- Admin -- 20 January 2006

. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Stacey Sutherland Phone: 407-905-1914 E-mail: ssutherland@orangelake.com www.orangelake.com . Orange Lake Resort & Country Club Hosts U.S. Daily Point of Light Award ...

Circling Swans? -- Will -- 10 March 2006

My wife and I along with about 6 other people were strolling around the lagoon today and were treated to quite a sight. Two swans, with their wings up, were spinning around in the water in a kind of ...

Swans circling - Vying for Territory -- The Regal Swan® -- 14 March 2006

Hi Will: Good question. What you and your wife observed were probably two male swans exhibiting extremely aggressive territorial behavior. The swans will let each other know where their section of ...

Thank you -- Will -- 14 March 2006

Thank you, Regal Swan. Your first answer fits with the scenario. We weren't the only ones there and the whole show was quite impressive.

Thank You -- The Regal Swan® -- 15 March 2006

You are very welcome. Anytime we can help, we are very glad to do so. The Regal Swan®

Spinning Swans - the Players -- The Happy Wanderer -- 15 March 2006

Hi, Will Loved your description of the spinning swans -I knew right away who the players were! These are the "Two Brothers" (see their page on website). Both are feisty, but one is by far the most ...

Why Are Cygnets Dying? -- KR -- 6 January 2006

Hi, I have a question about baby swans. I live in Chicago and 2 Mute Swans have been returning here every winter for the last few years. This time was different though as they returned with baby ...

Cygnets Dying - Possible Reasons -- The Regal Swan® -- 7 January 2006

This is an interesting question and I am forwarding this to our veterinary medicine staff to see if they may have some thoughts. There are a couple of thoughts that I have because of previous ...

Cygnets Dying - Lead Poisoning -- KR -- 8 January 2006

Hi, Oh no.:( This must be lead poisoning. 3 have died now, 1 is sick. We have 2 whole bodies. The third one is missing at sea. Yes, the sick one has been convulsing and doesn't eat. It also has been ...

Lead Poisoning - Cygnets -- The Regal Swan -- 8 January 2006

Unfortunately, it is probably too late. This does sound like some type of poisoning and with the news of a skeet club, lead poisoning may be the prime culprit. I am again forwarding this to our ...

Can Swans Land on Shore and on Water? -- Aynsley Morris -- 2 November 2005

Hi there, Can Swans land on land as well as water? Do they land on land only in exceptional circumstances?

Swans Landing -- Dorothy Beeson BEM -- 7 November 2005

Yes they can land on both land and water - perfectly normal, although landing on man-made surfaces is usually accidental and often a consequence of overshooting the intended landing spot.

A Swan Yawn? -- Marilyn Kerr -- 31 October 2005

I sometimes see a swan repeatedly open and close his bill over several minutes. It looks as if he's yawning. Is this the case, or does it indicate a health problem?

Why Swans Yawn -- Dorothy Beeson BEM -- 2 November 2005

Very often swans do that when they are bathing, as if to clear their ears. It can sometimes indicate a problem. If the swan seems well otherwise I doubt it is anything to worry.

Re: Why Swans Yawn -- Jennifer -- 29 March 2009

If we see birds doing that repeatedly we check them for gapeworms.

To Dorothy Beeson: Lead poisoning of Judson Lake *Link* -- Concerned -- 31 October 2005

Hello Dorothy Would you like to comment on the question about lead poisoning of Judson Lake (see link to the question below)? Thank you.

To Dorothy Beeson: swans -- Darran -- 31 October 2005

Hi Is it true that swans will stick to the same partner all there life? Thanks Darran, From Leeds.

swan pairs -- Dorothy Beeson BEM -- 2 November 2005

Yes they do, as far as is possible. If part of a pair dies then, just like people the other may find a new mate or may go on to enjoy the rest of its life single. It is also not unheard of for a cob ...

To Regal Swan: Annual mass lead poisoning of migratory trumpeter swans in the Judson lake -- Concerned -- 30 October 2005

There is a serious problem of annual mass poisoning deaths of Trumpeter Swans at Judson Lake, which is at and near the USA/Canada international border in the State of Washington: The migrating swans ...

Lead poisoning in Swans -- The Regal Swan®, Inc. -- 30 October 2005

Dear Concerned: Yes, you and many folks around the world are concerned about lead poisoning, not only in your neck of the woods, but worldwide. The Regal Swan® staff has no first-hand experience with ...

lead poisoning -- Dorothy Beeson BEM -- 2 November 2005

We will come back to this as soon as we have had the time to consider all the information. Briefly lead poisoning in swans is easily treated these days and it is shocking that so many swans are ...

The Regal Swan® Awarded Prestigious U.S. Daily Point of Light Award -- The Regal Swan® -- 30 October 2005

October 28, 2005 For Immediate Release Contact: Shirley Bolin Tel: (407) 931-6838 E-mail: Bolin.S@att.net Website: www.theregalswan.com The Regal Swan® Awarded Prestigious U.S. Daily Point of Light ...

To Regal Swan: Suggestions welcome about protection of nests -- The Owl -- 19 October 2005

As all the visitors to Lost Lagoon know, the swans nest a couple of feet from the path that circles the Lagoon, easy prey to the few bad elements that destroy the eggs every year. The Management of ...

Protection of Nests -- The Regal Swan®, Inc. -- 19 October 2005

Thanks for the question, we get these types of questions frequently from around the world. We would suggest several options: If the lagoon provides nesting materials, try to get the swans to nest in ...

Plastic sheet/windscreen -- The Owl -- 30 October 2005

Thank you for the excellent suggestions on how to protect the nests. I have a question about the windscreen/plastic sheet: The wind and the rain on the plastic sheet, mostly the one on the top/roof ...

Plastic sheet -- The Regal Swan®, Inc. -- 30 October 2005

Thanks for your question. Plastic sheeting should not be used on the nesting pen. The reason behind this is two-fold. Even a moderate wind storm could cause the plastic to rip and tear in the wind. ...