A couple of years ago, after the Whoopers returned home for Summer, one stayed behind on the River Kent in Cumbria. After seeing it a few times I realised why: it had a damaged wing and couldn't fly. It spent its time between the marsh and the river. If anyone was around, it waddled into the river if it was on the marsh.
Two years later it's still here, looking healthy and well fed- apart from its damaged wing. I guess an injured swan can manage to survive better than some other birds as long as it can still walk and swim.
Fortunately it's in a fairly unique area which is seldom disturbed by humans or dogs, although a fox would be seen sometimes - but so far, its managed to avoid that.
Most likely it damaged its wing flying into overhead electrical wires; several Mute Swans have come a-cropper that way in recent years. I've written to the local power company asking them to place deterrent markers on the wires but was fobbed off. They said it wasn't their responsibility. I made further enquiries but got nowhere.
Whoopers are birds of the flock, but this one has carried on in a solo mode. When flocks of Whoopers do visit, it doesn't bother joining in, simply carrying on with its lonely existence, which is rather sad, but at least its still alive.
Two years later it's still here, looking healthy and well fed- apart from its damaged wing. I guess an injured swan can manage to survive better than some other birds as long as it can still walk and swim.
Fortunately it's in a fairly unique area which is seldom disturbed by humans or dogs, although a fox would be seen sometimes - but so far, its managed to avoid that.
Most likely it damaged its wing flying into overhead electrical wires; several Mute Swans have come a-cropper that way in recent years. I've written to the local power company asking them to place deterrent markers on the wires but was fobbed off. They said it wasn't their responsibility. I made further enquiries but got nowhere.
Whoopers are birds of the flock, but this one has carried on in a solo mode. When flocks of Whoopers do visit, it doesn't bother joining in, simply carrying on with its lonely existence, which is rather sad, but at least its still alive.
