Latest news with #swans
BBC News
6 hours ago
- General
- BBC News
Three dead swans found near Broads drainage pump at Oby Dyke
Dead swans have been discovered on the Broads after they got trapped in water near a drainage and Wildlife Rescue said it received a call alerting them to four birds, including three which were dead, trapped at Oby Dyke, Norfolk, on charity said the birds appeared to have been stuck and were unable to climb the steep bank to get group's Dan Goldsmith said: "Swans require a good distance to get flight so flying in and out here was not possible." After being alerted, a Broads Authority team arrived within 20 the time they arrived, the fourth swan had got out after the person who found the birds managed to flatten the vegetation around the river. The charity said it would make inquiries to see what improvements could be made to the area, including cutting an inlet where the swan was able to leave and making sure the footpath was cut and Goldsmith said it was not an unusual incident, and the group often came across swans in a "predicament".He said they had found swans trapped in ditches and unable to get out, and trapped between fences – "then they panic themselves and get completely stuck".The Broads Authority has been approached for comment. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
19-05-2025
- BBC News
Milton Keynes swan eggs destroyed by vandals again
A pair of swans have had their clutch of eggs destroyed by vandals for a second time, an animal charity has Valley Police was called to Lodge Lake, Milton Keynes, on Thursday, after reports the eggs were smashed between 17:00 BST and 17: Swan Rescue - which usually has volunteers watching the nest - said the eggs were destroyed by teenagers last Humphries, director and senior rescuer at the charity, said: "The whole team are deflated. We tried so hard." In 2023, the eggs were destroyed after heavy rainfall caused the area to charity said vandals targeted them in 2024, and then earlier this year, a clutch of eggs from the same pair went Humphries said volunteers had agreed to take turns watching the nest, but for an hour it was left unguarded the eggs were destroyed."People want to look after them No matter what we do somebody is hurting them," said Ms Humphries."They're not doing any harm, they just want to raise their young." The charity said it had been told by police it was considering installing wildlife cameras in the area.A statement from Thames Valley Police said: "Officers have conducted thorough inquiries into this incident and this investigation has been filed pending further information coming to light.""Anyone who saw anything suspicious at Lodge Lake or anyone with information about the incident should call us on 101, or make a report online, quoting crime reference number 43250239113." Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Yahoo
Five cygnets hatch from killed swans' eggs
Eggs left abandoned after two nesting swans died by a canal towpath in Newport have been hatching at a wildlife rescue centre. The two swans died after an attack by another animal, police and a local councillor have said. The birds were found dead on the towpath at Victoria Park, between 30 April and 1 May. Becky Lewis, assistant hospital manager at Cuan Wildlife, said 11 eggs were found, six cygnets had hatched, and of those five survived. The other five eggs had not been viable, she said. "We managed to get the eggs and get them in to incubate them," Ms Lewis said. She said the cygnets were now a week old and would remain at the rescue centre, based in Much Wenlock, for a "good few months". She said they needed to be adult-sized when they were released but would still have their grey feathers. "We normally release them at the end of the summer, late September," she said. The five cygnets were all doing well, she added, and were eating and drinking "exactly as we hoped". Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Councillor rebuts swan death police cover-up claims Swans not killed with air rifle, police say Cuan Wildlife Rescue
BBC News
15-05-2025
- BBC News
Newport town councillor rebuts swan death police cover-up claims
A post-mortem report into the deaths of two nesting swans has been posted online in a bid to counter claims of a "police cover-up".West Mercia Police initially said the swans had been shot with an air rifle in Newport between 30 April and 1 May, but officers later said it appeared the birds had been killed by another Thomas Janke, who chairs Newport Town Council's community safety committee, said a wave of unfounded rumours had appeared online, some casting doubt on the integrity of the police neighbourhood the post-mortem report online, he wrote: "Let me be clear, there is no police cover-up. The case is now closed." Cuan Wildlife Rescue carried out an examination after the swans were found dead on the tow-path at Victoria Park, the Local Democracy Reporting Service eggs that were left abandoned after the swans died later started to hatch. Janke said it was disheartening to see trust in the police undermined by speculation with no basis in wrote: "The local police sergeant has personally examined the swans and consulted the vet who carried out a closer inspection."He can confirm the findings point clearly to an attack by a large animal – likely a dog, fox, or other predator."He said injuries included crushing of the skull and bite marks consistent with a larger animal, with no evidence of gunshot or pellet wrote: "While we may never know the exact species responsible, what we do know is this was not caused by a firearm."I respectfully ask our community to refrain from spreading misinformation and conspiracy theories online." Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
09-05-2025
- BBC News
Newport swans not killed with air rifle, police say
Two swans found dead by a canal towpath were not killed with an air rifle as was originally believed, police West Mercia Police said it appeared they were killed by another birds were found in Victoria Park, Newport, Shropshire, at the start of eggs left behind by the nesting birds are now in the care of Cuan Wildlife Rescue in Much Wenlock and have begun to hatch. Last week the force described the attack on the two swans as an "unlawful killing" and said: "We believe both swans were shot with an air rifle sometime in the night over 30 April to 1 May."But on Friday a spokesperson said: "Following further enquiries and advice from animal experts, we can confirm that the swans were killed by another animal and there is no criminal activity involved."After an emergency appeal, Cuan Wildlife Rescue was able to buy a large incubator and said it hoped all 11 eggs would hatch. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
