Adam Prudhomme
Beaver Staff
A pair of mute swans were given a ‘police escort’ of sorts to Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre after they were found along the side of Hwy 33 in Prince Edward County.
An OPP officer discovered the injured birds last Wednesday and then took them to safety in a police cruiser before finding a volunteer to take them the rest of the way to Napanee’s SPWC.
“These poor swans hit a hydro line, which does happen occasionally,” said Leah Birmingham, a registered veterinary technician and assistant director at SPWC. “The male is less injured than the female, so he’s doing pretty good. The female has a broken femur and some evidence of burn marks on her wings and her beak. We’re hopeful for her because she can still use the leg somewhat, even as it is broken. We’re hopeful with some time she’ll be able to put some weight on it and then go back out on the water. It’s a pretty bad fracture. There is no surgical repair for it. We’re just going to keep her on cage rest and keep the leg splinted and bound to the body and hope it heals as best it can.”
Time is a factor as they hope to get the swan back out on the water before the water freezes. A common site on the Bay of Quinte, Lake Ontario and even the Napanee River, mute swans don’t migrate and spend the winter in Canada.
Birmingham says they’re also hoping to release the pair at the same time, as they’re ‘bonded’. To release the male alone would cause a great deal of stress for both birds.
“We would rather it work and they go together so that when she does get back out there, they still have a mate,” Birmingham said.
Given the early start to winter seen in this area, these two mute swans may signal the start of a very busy season of waterfowl for the animal rehabilitation centre. SPWC has already had its hands full with the fallout from January’s devastating barn fire, followed by an injury to the contractor in charge of building its replacement.
Fortunately they’ve had support from volunteers from Graham Construction who have stepped up to help get the barn built. That’ll be a huge help as the barn will house animals such as swans.
“The barn side will be ready and we can bring swans into the barn,” said Birmingham. “I’m really worried about this winter because it’s getting so cold so quickly in November. Historically when we’ve had those freeze overs in February and January, it’s been when the ice starting forming in November.”
Birmingham says during a mild winter, they’d typically see about 10 swans brought into the centre. During extremely cold winters, that number can climb to upwards of 35.
“At the very least, just having the barn to be able to house swans in there is going to be a huge benefit for us this winter,” she added.
Unfortunately it’s looking less and less likely that the aquatic rehabilitation portion of the barn won’t be finished before the new year, which will make things just a little more challenging for the staff and volunteers at SPWC. But as they’ve proven many times over the years, with the help of the community, they will find a way to make due.
Anyone looking to help raise some funds for the new barn can attend their annual Holiday, Cheer, Chocolate and Barn Raising this Tuesday at the Strathcona Paper Centre from 7 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $25 per person or $20 for those who bring chocolate treats to donate. Steve Albertson will provide the musical entertainment with wine tasting, a cash bar and a chocolate dessert buffet.