Protecting Our Swans –
As we all know, Kilminchy is a beautiful residential estate with three lakes and we are so lucky to have a variety of amazing wildlife around the lakes. The undoubted star attractions are the beautiful, graceful Mute Swans. While Mute Swans are plentiful in Ireland (estimated 2,500 pairs) and they are not an endangered species, we all have a responsibility to take care of these beautiful wild birds.
“If you can add a great beauty to something which is already beautiful, then you must be very beautiful like a white swan adding beauty to a misty lake!” (
In recent weeks, we have seen a number of additions as well as losses among the swan population. First, there was the tragic accident during a storm that claimed the life of the adult male (cob) leaving the female (pen) to hatch and care for the cygnets. Four is quite a small number of eggs and there are unconfirmed reports that some eggs were stolen in the weeks before the cygnets were successfully hatched. As I write this blog, a second female swan is on the nest in the middle lake and hopefully we will see more new life soon. In the meantime, three of the original four cygnets remain, but the whereabouts of the fourth cygnet is unknown.
Let nature take it’s course!
Wild animals kill and are killed by other wild animals. That’s nature! It can be hard to watch a beautiful animal being torn apart and our natural instinct is to intervene. Should we interfere with nature or let it take it’s course? This is nature where hunters become the hunted and there is always a predator waiting. Life and death is part of the natural cycle in the wild, whether we like it or not. By all means, we should let nature take it’s course but we should take care not to add negatively to the survival prospects of wildlife including our swans and ducks whose home is Kilminchy Lakes.
Cats by their nature are hunters and the most active predator in Ireland. They are a major danger to birds including cygnets. What about our much loved pet dogs? Remember that the origin of the domestic dog includes it’s evolutionary divergence from the wolf. We love our dogs but our dogs can and do kill wild birds including swans. Please keep your dog on a lead when walking near Kilminchy Lakes!
Swans can kill dogs!
If you don’t care about swans but love your dog, think about this fact. Swans are very territorial and will defend their territory aggressively against allcomers including other swans, especially when protecting their cygnets. If your pet dog decides to go for a swim near where a swan is protecting their young, there is a good chance your prized pet could be badly injured or even killed. In the water, a protective swan is more than a match for just about any dog. The image above shows the moment a Staffordshire Bull Terrier attacked a swan on dry land and came off second best. Click here to read the full story.
Meanwhile, the images below show what happened when a dog entered a lake in England to attack the swans. He did manage to bite a wing of one of the swans but was successfully chased away by the swans.
The video below is a different incident but it demonstrates how aggressive a swan can be. The message is, keep your dogs out of the water or risk them being injured or worse.
Take care of and protect our swans!
Swans have survived for thousands of years not because they are weak but because they have the ability to defend themselves against many predators. Swans usually find enough food in the wild without supplementary feeding by humans. However, we understand that people, especially children, love to feed the swans.
Feeding the swans!
If you want to feed the swans, give them fresh bread and remember that mould is poisonous to swans. On the other hand, grain such as wheat or corn, and fresh greens such as lettuce are fine. The food should be thrown onto the water so that they can swallow water with the food – feeding them on land is not a good idea as it encourages the swans to leave the relative safety of the water when they see people and this can bring them into harm from cars, dogs, cats, foxes and other predators.
If you witness anybody interfering with the swans, please report it immediately.
