A thin loop of white plastic twine served as a stark reminder that Lakelanders’ careless behavior can have severe health impacts on the city’s beloved feathered icons.
A 9-year-old male Australian black swan was found to have a piece of plastic baler twine wrapped around its body and the claw on its right foot, causing injuries to its wing and leg during the wellness examinations conducted Oct. 29 as part of the 45th annual Swan Roundup.
Dr. Price Dickson, the city’s swan veterinarian from My Pet’s Animal Hospital, freed the bird then made a decision to hospitalize the swan to allow it time to recover from its injuries.
“It appears a piece of trash was wrapped around the poor thing, and there’s no telling how long it was there, either,” said Steve “Swanfather” Platt, a city grounds maintenance supervisor who oversees the city’s flock.
The city’s parks and recreation employees check on the feathered denizens of Lake Morton daily, Platt said, picking up trash and ensuring the swans are taken care of.
“We ask people to please not throw trash on the ground,” he said. “We would like to ask the public if you see something, please pick it up and throw it away.”
Flocks largely gets a clean bill of health
The city’s 54 swans overall appear to be in “pretty good” health, according to Dickson. Compared to prior years, many of the swans are at a healthy body weight ― a good indicator there’s been less bread and maybe more leafy greens and frozen peas from visiting families in their diet.
Some of the birds have signs of prior bumblefoot, or round, raised sores on the webbing of their feet frequently caused by being overweight or stepping on debris, according to Dr. Kayla Brenk, a veterinarian with My Pets Animal Hospital. None had active lesions.
During the annual physical, Dickson and Brenk weigh each swan, take the heart rate and respiration then carefully examine their eyes, ears, beaks and feet for any signs of disease or injuries, examine the wings and clip flight feathers if needed. Some birds are given a shot of Ivermectin, a dewormer, to help treat for lice and parasites as needed.
“We haven’t had any birds with disastrous feet,” Dickson said. “A couple of lice on younger birds, that’s why we are deworming.”
Each swan is microchipped, allowing it to be individually identified, and any relevant health concerns are jotted down. Some of the swans are named, ranging from “Sir Reginald” and “Pretty Feet” to “Big Angry,” based on their personalities.
A calm 15-year-old mute swan was dubbed “Lily” during her examination by Dickson for her demeanor and bright, white feathers. The name was recorded in her file, alongside her microchip number.
New sign-in for volunteers
For the first time, locals interested in holding a swan during its annual wellness exam were greeted at a sign-in table.
In a time-honored tradition, Lakeland residents and their children often come to Lake Morton’s shores during the Swan Roundup and wellness examinations to get an up close and personal view of their feathered friends. Many would ask if it was possible to hold a swan on a metal folding chair, almost a mockup of a doctor’s waiting room, as the birds wait for their turn with the vet.This year, the city placed an official limitation that volunteers were age 15 or older and must sign a liability waiver before holding a bird.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Trash hospitalizes a swan amid annual Lakeland checkup. Residents asked to help clean up lake
Reporting by Sara-Megan Walsh, Lakeland Ledger / The Ledger
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