As regular CFZ-watchers will know, for some time Corinna has been doing a column for Animals & Men and a regular segment on On The Track... particularly about out-of-place birds and rare vagrants. There seem to be more and more bird stories from all over the world hitting the news these days so, to make room for them all - and to give them all equal and worthy coverage - she has set up this new blog to cover all things feathery and Fortean.

Thursday 21 April 2016

Bloodied bird rescued from Mirfield lake after swan territory war

07:00, 18 APR 2016

Swans mate for life but can be brutal in territory wars

A swan who lost her mate has been brutally attacked on a Mirfield lake – by another pair of swans.

The female swan, who had lived at Ladywood Lakes, off Steanard Lane, for several years, was left bleeding and exhausted.

She was rescued by a fisherman who called in experts from Yorkshire Swan Rescue Hospital at Barlow near Selby.

The swan was captured and taken to the sanctuary on Friday. She will remain there for several days but is expected to make a full recovery.

Sanctuary founder Dan Sidley said swans mate for life and, tragically, the swan’s mate was killed in flight a few months ago when he collided with overhead power cables.

Since then she had been alone and vulnerable.

“Swans are quite a ferocious breed and very territorial,” said Dan. “They can be brutal at times.

“Swans mate for life but if one of them dies they do find other partners. We had high hopes this swan would move on after her partner died but that’s not happened.

 “Another pair of swans have come onto the lake and there has been a battle for the water and she’s come off worst.

“We’ve taken her in and she’s in a pen on her own while we monitor her. She’s exhausted and seems to be in a state of shock.

“It looks like she was chased around the lake until she could escape no more. Swans are quite hardy birds so she should recover.”



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