My youngest son 'Swan Upping' at a sanctuary a few years ago.



Last winter as a volunteer at a Wildlife Rehab Centre I helped release some swans that had been recovering from salmonella. Nearly had a head-on collision in the narrow lanes with very heavy swans shooting forward to pin us to the windscreen if it hadn't been avoided.
On carrying them to the water's edge one of the swans got his feet out of the restraining bag and took off down the slipway. If he managed to escape, with his wings still restricted he would not off survived. My intrepid companion on this expedition launched herself into the freezing January river to successfully recapture him. (I wasn't being ungallant! As full-time staff she was insured to take the risk )