[wisb] Re: Swan-related drowning

Well, this shows how ignorant and naïve people can be about wildlife. They 
probably hand fed these birds most of the year, but had no idea about 
aggression at nesting time. I'm aware of two her deaths that been reported by 
nesting Mute Swans. One was an elderly fisherman sitting in a johnboat that was 
hit and knocked overboard, and there is another incident when a jet skier got 
nailed.  A lady in Duck Creek area was attacked by her pair and ended up with a 
broken arm and leg.
Not a bird to mess with at nesting time!

Tom Erdman
Green Bay.

-----Original Message-----
From: wisbirdn-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:wisbirdn-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On 
Behalf Of Peter A. Fissel
Sent: Tuesday, April 17, 2012 12:22 PM
To: Wisconsin Birding Network
Subject: [wisb] Re: Swan-related drowning

There is an article in the print edition of the Wisc. St. Journal this morning 
on this, although I can't seem to find it online to link to. 
The Mute Swans were actually placed in a pond in a condo complex near Des 
Plaines, IL, by a company that provides swans or dogs timnto keep geese away.  
The man who drowned was an employee of the company who was checking on the 
swans and got too close to the nest.  The male swan attacked and in the melee, 
the kayak overturned.  Unfortunately, even though the guy was a good swimmer, 
he was fully dressed, including wearing boots, and the pond was quite deep.  
Between all that and the swan continuing its attack as he tried to swim to 
shore, he went down and didn't come up.  Ironic and tragic, as he was a 
37-year-old father of two little girls.

The residents of the condo complex really liked not having goose droppings 
around... seems like a pretty steep price to pay now.

Peter Fissel
Madison WI
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