Swan has ride in a hovercraft!

John and Leonie with the swan ready to go for a ride in the hovercraft!

Leonie with the swan ready for release after some TLC

This beautiful swan has John to thank for his rescue. John is a valued member of our Australian Seabird Rescue team as he covers areas of Lake Illawarra in his hovercraft that are inaccessible to other vessels. So a quick phone call to base from John got fellow member Kay organised to go with him to rescue the swan.

Other team members were already in another area responding to a pelican with the all too familiar fishing line problem.

The swan was picked up and brought into care and after a complete check over, some TLC, good food and R&R he was happily released on Christmas eve by John and Leonie, back in the same area where another swan was patiently waiting for his return - presumably his mate. A good result and nice Christmas story.

We are very lucky to have other members with hovercraft also who are always willing to help at the drop of a hat. Thanks fellas.

Betty

Swan family at Shellharbour Library!

Recently Rhonda and Bill had an unexpected call-out to the Shellharbour Library in Wentworth St. A mother swan and her 4 cygnets had been walking down the street! When they arrived the swans were nowhere to be seen. A local man took them to where he thought the birds might have gone but we couldn't find them. Some people at the school told them they had seen the swans earlier near Subway so they set off in that direction. A lady recognised the Seabird Rescue truck and flagged them down. She told them she had seen another lady take the lollypop sign from the lollypop man at the school and then held up the traffic so the swans could walk safely down the street. Rhonda & Bill eventually found mother & cygnets in a paddock with a wetland in sight and ushered the family gently toward it. The Father swan was in the water honking for them to return. They walked back to him and all swam off together. Rhonda & Bill closed the big gate but the padlock was missing. We hope they stay the in the wetlands now. 

Wow those little tiny, grey, fluffy cygnets must have been tired. They had walked all over Shellharbour with Mum!