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Swans and Cygnets update

SWANS AND THEIR 6 CYGNETS IN THE MAIN LAKE JUNE 2017

Swan Family rescued from polluted Pymmes Lake

4/9/16

Many of you may be wondering what has happened to our dear little cygnets you might have seen in the video on our homepage or on the lake over the past few months. Our current news about them is that the remaining three are alive and well and were taken to The Swan Sanctuary in Shepperton, Middlesex, TW17 8NN to be cared for by the experts there. (See photo on right) They have told us that they are sadly half the size they should be which may point to several causes. One of them being that they were undernourished.

Normally, the reason you shouldn't feed birds is because they will get dependent on external means of getting food when in fact the lake and surroundings should provide a normal diet. Swans living on fresh water will typically eat pondweed, stonewort and wigeon grass, as well as tadpoles and insects such as milfoil. But if there is an imbalance then the swans in particular are in trouble. That is why we have taken steps to start a feeding program of grain, such as wheat, and vegetable matter, especially lettuce.

Now, we have done some research and have been advised by some very good people about what to do with our swan couple. They are actually doing quite well (see picture below) even though their cygnets have been taken away. They are behaving normally, eating and preening themselves and asserting their positions in the pecking order of the waterfowl in the lake, so we are pretty pleased with that. But to reitterate what we have discovered and to be sure you understand, white bread is NOT very nourishing and mouldy bread can actually kill birds so if you do enjoy bringing food to feed the birds make sure it's grain or lettuce or a little brown grainery bread and make sure it goes into the water otherwise it may attract rats.

12/06/17

GOOD NEWS! The swan couple have had their cygnets in late May to all our relief even though they arrived at a time of great upheaval in the Wetlands where Thames21 decided to do some replanting of the area. But all is well and we are pleased to say we think our special feeding regime advised by the Swan Sanctuary has made all the difference.

Originally we counted 8 and now they are 6 but all of them growing well and looking strong. They are great parents and highly protective so it is advised not to get too close to them as adorable as the cygnets are.

One thing we would like to encourage you to do too is to donate to THE SWAN SANCTUARY as it is vital to the health and care of not just our swan's cygnets but many other swans and various creatures they've rescued. They are pretty amazing people and we don't know what we would have done if they hadn't come to Pymmes Park's rescue.

SWANS AND DUCKS IN THE MAIN LAKE MARCH 2017

02/03/17

The latest update on last year's Pymmes Park cygnets is, we are so sorry to say, along with some other cygnets who were also brought in underweight at the Swan Sanctuary, didn't make it. It was during the cold snap. It was just too much for them. It's heart-breaking really, but we are hopeful there will be new healthy cygnets on the lake in a short while as the male and female have been feeding well on the healthy feed (recommended by the Swan Sanctuary) of wheat discs and wheat seeds.