Lakeland plans swan sale to reduce overpopulation

LAKELAND — Lakeland officials have decided saying goodbye to a few of the city's beloved feathered friends is long overdue.

The city is planning to hold a swan sale to eliminate the birds' overpopulation of Lake Morton after the 40th Swan Roundup, set for Oct. 6. The feathered population has rapidly swelled in recent years, leading to a wide variety of issues.

"We are really overpopulated," Bob Donahay, Lakeland's director of parks and recreation, said.


https://www.theledger.com/story/new...sale-reduce-flocks-overpopulation/3502879001/
 

Why not sell them, or give them, to parks in other locations?
 

Swans tend to be unfriendly (if one hunches down and stretches his neck down parallel with the ground, walk quickly in the opposite direction 'cause you are about to get the peckin' of your life and those dudes can break a human's bones).

However, when I worked in downtown Orlando, I frequently ate my sandwich sitting on a bench at Lake Eola, across the street from my office. I had a favorite swan who would waddle over (he had a short leg with a foot turned almost backwards, so I think he must have come from a rescue facility) and beg for crusts. He'd lay his head on my knee and "honk" softly to me until I gave him a piece of bread. Then he'd let me stroke his neck until he got bored and waddled off to find another sucker.

Several of the swans would have babies each year and would be moseying around the park with their fuzzy little offspring. You DO NOT want to get too near a mama swam with babies. She'll put a mama bear to shame.
 
I adore swans and photographing them. Have never had a problem with a swan with cygnets or without. Just be respectful. And I too hope they don't break up the mates. :cry:
 


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