Swans in trouble.

At this time of year many swans are on the move. Some are searching for territories of their own. Others are trying to attract mates! Many land in unfriendly places where they are attacked by resident swans. Others land on wet roads mistaking them for rivers. Some land in small gardens or yards and cannot leave as there isn't sufficient length for a take off. We have received several calls from all over the country seeking advice. We got calls from Camus and Carraroe in Connemara, from Dublin city and county, Cork city, Ennis, Co. Clare and all over the county.

On Bank Holiday Monday a swan landed on the Headford road near Carrowbrown. The Gardai asked me to help. A passing motorist stopped and took it off the road. Unfortunately, it had been hit by one or two cars. It was badly bruised. I took the poor thing with me. Some pain relief was administered. I was afraid of internal injuries and bleeding. The swan took a turn for the worse next day and died peacefully.

More Cygnets!

Once again I am rearing three cygnets! This little brood was abandoned by it's parents ( an unusual occurrence ) They may have been intimidated by other swans. At only one day old they were being washed down the Corrib. We were called by a fisherman who noticed their plight. Feargal donned his wetsuit and with much difficulty in the deep and strong current he found four. We found the parents and tried to coax them to take the cygnets back,but to no avail.
They are now four weeks old and three of them made it. They are off the heat lamp and are thriving on a diet of duck and geese pellets and large amounts of shredded lettuce. Lucy, the goose is caring for them. They are enjoying their baths in the paddling pool under Lucy's close supervision!

Swan Sanctuary for Galway

Galway and Claddagh Swan Rescue are delighted to announce that Galway City Council have given us permission to erect a holding pen beside the 'Swan Sanctuary' container in Lough Rusheen Park, Barna.
We are in the process of applying for Planning Permission. We also have to have an appropiate Environmental Impact study carried out. The company, Aqua Fact, in Liosbaun is doing this for us free of charge! This is very generous of them. We really appreciate it.
This pen will be used to house swans, ducks and other wetland birds while they are recovering from injury and for the rearing of orphaned birds.
We have to fund this project ourselves. We are hoping that volunteers will do the work and that we may get the materials at a good price!
Maybe some generous persons out there would wish to become 'PATRONS'

We would appreciate DONATIONS!

Our Bank Account is Galway & Claddagh Swan Rescue, A.I.B.Salthill, Galway.
Account Number 03161-039
Sort Code 93-74-01

PLEASE HELP US TO COMPLETE THIS PROJECT

For further information phone Mary on 086 8155361

The Cygnets are growing up!

During the month of July the cygnets got much bigger. Their soft down was starting to change into stubby feathers.

I also gave them the run of my back garden when the new fence was erected.

By now they were enjoying their swims and games in the paddling pool.

The cygnets were happy to share the garden, the pool and the pen with injured ducks that were recovering and a few clutches of ducklings!

Each evening they were put into the secure pen so that they would be safe from predators overnight.

By the middle of August they were fully feathered and growing rapidly.

Their appetites were growing also. They enjoyed larger amounts of poultry pellets in water in a much larger trough. This they ate enthusiastically morning and evening. In the middle of the day they consumed large amounts of shredded lettuce, cabbage and carrots. For the greens I must thank Joyce's Supermarket, Knocknacarra, Galway. The staff there were very generous to the cygnets and were very interested in their progress.

As September wore on I knew the cygnets were ready for release. Before I let them go I weighed each one. The heaviest one was 8.8kg. and the lightest of the four was 6.5kg. Didn't they do well?


We released the four of them at 2.30pm. on Saturday 3rd. October, 2009 in the Claddagh at the mouth of the river Corrib. They were so happy to have lots of water space! I hoped they would be safe. Immediately they swam away and explored the area. I had many anxious moments that evening and during the next two days trying to locate them. After that they settled in the Claddagh. We are still supplementing their feeding a little. I am glad to report that 3 weeks later they continue to make great progress. The other swans and cygnets have accepted them fully.

Many wellwishers came to watch the release and take photographs.

Rescued Cygnets

A clutch of cygnets were seen in distress and without parents close to Spanish Arch. They were being taken out to sea by the current. A member of the public rescued them from the water. Galway & Claddagh Swan Rescue was contacted. Imelda took them home and kept them warm under an infra-red lamp. Meanwhile another lone cygnet was rescued from the canal. All this happened during the June Bank Holiday weekend.

The first clutch were only a few days old. The lone cygnet was about 3 weeks old.
I took them home to Knocknacarra. The four cygnets were very comfortable together under the infra-red lamp. It was not long until they got the 'hang' of eating chick pellets soaked in water. They formed a family group. It was lovely to see the oldest one looking after the three little ones!

After 2 weeks they were ready to live in a pen in my back garden. They enjoyed the space and the paddling pool. By then they were eating very well and growing rapidly. At this stage they need lots of green vegetables in their diet. I want to thank Joyce's Supermarket, Knocknacarra, for supplying copious amounts of lettuces, cabbage and carrots, which I had to shred for them every day!

Homing Pigeons

You may come across a Homing Pigeon ( sometimes called a Carrier pigeon ) in your garden. You will recognise it as it will have rings on both legs. The letters I.H.U. will be on them. Sometimes these birds get lost or blown off course by strong winds. They may be exhausted or dehydrated. The best one can do for them is to provide clean water, bird seed, porridge oats or any grain and a safe place, away from cats, for them to rest up for a couple of days. Usually, they can make their own way home after that.

On the Irish Homing Pigeon website you will be able to find the names of local contacts in your county.

Gulls are Hatching

Throughout the Summer months gull chicks will be hatching all over the city and in coastal areas. In the city gull parents choose tall buildings for their nest sites. They particularly like flat roofs on which to rear their noisy brood.

When the chicks are ready to fledge (leave the nest) they jump and flutter down on to pavements , alleys, car parks, gardens etc. As they are unable to fly at this stage the parents feed and guard them, often dive-bombing anyone who interferes. It can take up to two weeks for the flight feathers to develop.The gull chicks are almost as big as the adults. Their feathers are brown and speckled. The chicks should never be removed, as the parents are feeding them, unless they are on the street. If they must be moved to a safer place it should be very close by so that the parents can see them.

Many fledglings stay on the ground for a period of time after they leave the nest as their flight feathers are not developed. These include rooks, hooded crows, jackdaws, magpies, mistle thrushes, pigeons and many more. Their parents feed them, guard them and teach them to fly.

Please do not remove any of these birds in the mistaken belief that they are injured. They need the protection and example of their families so as to survive in the wild.