Latest news with #swan
BBC News
7 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Dead swan found shot at Druridge Bay nature reserve
A dead swan has been found shot in the head at a popular beauty of the public found the female bird last week on the East Chevington nature reserve in Druridge Bay, grisly discovery was then reported to staff at the Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre, who said the swan had been 16 years old when it was Wildlife Trust (NWT) called the death "senseless" and "terrible". Hatched in 2009, the mute swan had a numbered metal ring attached to its leg in February 2011 for scientific monitoring meant it was possible to check its history. And, although there is no record of where the bird was born, three other records show it living on the River Wansbeck in June 2011, July 2012, and August Hauxley team also suspect the swan had been a resident at East Chevington for some time. NWT said, like all wild birds, swans were protected by the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act, making it illegal to harm charity stressed the killing of birds, or any other wildlife, would not be tolerated and would lead to "severe legal consequences" for those Alex Lister added: "It's terrible that a swan that had reached such a ripe old age should have their life ended in such a senseless way. "As a wildlife charity it is our job to protect and conserve wildlife and we are furious that this has happened at all, let alone in what's meant to be a safe and tranquil place to enjoy nature." Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
29-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Cambridge swan left blind in one eye by ball bearing shooting
A swan has been blinded in one eye after it was shot in the head with a 10mm (0.4in) steel ball bearing in a "disgusting" attack. The male bird was rescued on Monday by Gordon Porter from the Godmanchester-based Waterfowl Sanctuary, after it was spotted on the River Cam near Cambridge. The ball bearing is so deeply imbedded in the bird's skull that Mr Porter thinks surgery to remove it "may cause more damage". He said: "The poor swan fortunately is doing very well and will live his life at the sanctuary now that he has lost an eye." The bird was initially spotted at Baits Bite Lock, just north of Cambridge, on Sunday. Mr Porter said: "I did comment, 'I don't like that eye', but it was too far away to see if it was just swollen - or injured."The next day, he realised the swan, which is part of a family, had been seriously harmed in a catapult attack. "This family of swans will have approached [the attacker] for food, and they will have shot them at close range - it's disgusting," he raise their young as co-parents, so the the rescue centre brought the entire family back to its 5.5 acre (2.2 hectare) Godmanchester base, near Huntingdon. "He can't be returned to the river - he'll crash into something flying and he can't get out of the way from rowers," said Mr Porter."He'll have daily eye dressing changes with pain relief and considerations are being made for him to receive surgery at the weekend."The rest of the family will be able to wander freely beyond the rescue centre once they are ready. Mr Porter added the catapult used to attack the swan was different from the ones used by anglers to launch grain or maggots into the water. "This sort of catapult is designed to shoot ball bearings with accuracy," he said. Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
CTV News
14-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
Victoria Park's feathered friends return from their winter getaway
A swan was spotted in Kitchener's Victoria Park on May 14, 2025. (Dave Pettitt/CTV News) Two familiar faces have returned to Kitchener's Victoria Park after a winter away. Otis and Ophelia, the city's beloved swans, came home on Tuesday afternoon. The couple spends their winters at a wildlife facility in Elora, where they can stay safe and warm through the cooler months. Swan Otis Ophelia Victoria Park, Kitchener, Ont. A swan was spotted in Kitchener's Victoria Park on May 14, 2025. (Dave Pettitt/CTV News) City officials say park-goers may have a hard time spotting the pair, as its not uncommon for them to tuck away in the area's dense vegetation. 'This is not cause for concern and is normal behaviour that we expect,' an email explained. Now that the swans are back, the city is reminding residents not to feed to birds or approach them at any time.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Goose and swan hit in suspected catapult attack
A goose has been killed and a swan badly injured in a suspected catapult attack. Danni Rogers, a volunteer at Shepperton Swan Sanctuary, was called to the scene at Fleet Pond Nature Reserve, in Hampshire, at about 08:00 BST. He said the swan had a large ball bearing embedded in its cheek, which was "really, really heavy, so it's very lucky to be alive". The swan will require surgery to close the lesion, but the ball bearing has been removed and the wound treated. Mr Rogers said he discovered the male swan about 50ft (15m) from the bank of the lake, "looking worse for wear, its head down, with significant wounds to the right hand side of its face, then I noticed a big ball bearing in its cheek". He described the projectile as a "huge" and "unusually-sized ball bearing". The rescuer said the dead goose was found nearby with a similar injury. He added: "We believe the swan is going to be OK. Hopefully we'll get it released back to its mate." Mr Rogers, from Camberley in Surrey, started a campaign to ban the sale and carrying in public of catapults after dozens of attacks, many fatal, on wildfowl. His parliamentary petition has collected more than 20,000 signatures. The Government said it would keep the issue under review, "balancing the concern over the need to protect wildlife from the minority who misuse catapults, with respect for their legitimate use by anglers". Fleet Pond is the largest freshwater lake in Hampshire, with 141 acres of varied habitats. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Catapult ban petition to get government response Tennis club calls for catapult ban after vandalism Child injured after metal projectile fired at car Man loses nine teeth in suspected catapult attack The Swan Sanctuary Fleet Pond
BBC News
10-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Goose and swan hit in suspected catapult attack at Fleet Pond
A goose has been killed and a swan badly injured in a suspected catapult Rogers, a volunteer at Shepperton Swan Sanctuary, was called to the scene at Fleet Pond Nature Reserve, in Hampshire, at about 08:00 said the swan had a large ball bearing embedded in its cheek, which was "really, really heavy, so it's very lucky to be alive".The swan will require surgery to close the lesion, but the ball bearing has been removed and the wound treated. Mr Rogers said he discovered the male swan about 50ft (15m) from the bank of the lake, "looking worse for wear, its head down, with significant wounds to the right hand side of its face, then I noticed a big ball bearing in its cheek".He described the projectile as a "huge" and "unusually-sized ball bearing".The rescuer said the dead goose was found nearby with a similar added: "We believe the swan is going to be OK. Hopefully we'll get it released back to its mate." Mr Rogers, from Camberley in Surrey, started a campaign to ban the sale and carrying in public of catapults after dozens of attacks, many fatal, on parliamentary petition has collected more than 20,000 Government said it would keep the issue under review, "balancing the concern over the need to protect wildlife from the minority who misuse catapults, with respect for their legitimate use by anglers".Fleet Pond is the largest freshwater lake in Hampshire, with 141 acres of varied habitats. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
