Here's a link to the story.  It indicates that the victim was in his job for a decade, so it is likely he would have had some familiarity with swan behavior. A tragic outcome for him and his family. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-kayak-swan-death-20120417,0,4650835.story Gina Femali Round Lake, IL ----- Original Message ----- From: "Richter Museum" <richter@xxxxxxxx> To: "pfissel@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx" <pfissel@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "Wisconsin Birding Network" <wisbirdn@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Tuesday, April 17, 2012 4:16:17 PM Subject: [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 #################### You received this email because you are subscribed to the Wisconsin Birding Network (Wisbirdn). To UNSUBSCRIBE or SUBSCRIBE, use the Wisbirdn web interface at: //www.freelists.org/list/wisbirdn To set DIGEST or VACATION modes, use the Wisbirdn web interface at: //www.freelists.org/list/wisbirdn Visit Wisbirdn ARCHIVES at: //www.freelists.org/archives/wisbirdn