Some of my regular viewers will be wanting to know how the Court case went regarding the assault on me last July. It was again adjourned for a second time, due to a witness not turning up. Next court hearing will be in March. Methinks my assailant is trying to avoid the inevitable. Anyhow it is out of my 
hands and now rests with the courts.
hands and now rests with the courts.
Hello...There is an extreme cold warning here in Canada, in Ontario, where I live, & I have been wondering what I can do for some of the Trumpeter Swans who live here on our lake...Besides feeding them wild bird seed in the winter months, I have been wondering about giving them materials to make a nest...(or even, making a rudimentary nest for them & putting it out for them...) I was considering putting out some hay for them (not straw), but I wonder if they will eat it instead of using it to bed on...I have read that swans can eat hay, but that it can crop in their throats sometimes which can be dangerous...Any advice?
ReplyDeleteHi, I have no experience of Trumpeter Swans or for that matter Canadian winters. I would however play safe, if you know or feel that there is a danger that they could get hay lodged in their throat. The most important thing is that they get food to survive the winter. Our Mute Swans live on river and pond weed but also eat grasses and I feed them wheat, poultry pellets, and carrots during the winter. I generally soak the wheat for a day then throw the wheat in the water where they can reach it. I have read that Swans have been killed in north america due to ingesting pine needles floating in lakes. I would imagine they will collect their own nesting materials when the time is right. Mute swans make their nests from reeds twigs and grasses usually above high water mark but can occasionally get caught out by flooding. Personally I would think that straw would be better nesting material than hay.
ReplyDeleteHi Again, If the severe weather means that the Trumpeter Swans have no access to drinking water, it is important that you provide it - especially if you are feeding them dry seeds. Wildfowl can withstand incredibly low temperatures with the down and feathers providing insulation. The main thing is providing High protein food to help fight the cold.
ReplyDeleteIt's -18.9 C temperature here today, -29 C with the wind chill added...Thank you for your reassurance about them being able to keep warm...I was afraid to put out straw because of the possibility that they might eat it-though it is more traditional for bedding...There are two Trumpeters who are spending their second winter near a marina(It's called Bluffer's Park marina) on our Lake Ontario that was made into a cove, so they do have water, albeit it is now partially frozen in many places...Last Sunday there were 4 new Trumpeters as well who showed up for food(& some juveniles-at least 2, on previous occasions too)...Word travels fast in swan social networks...I have been bringing 18kg bags of wild bird seed, which is affordable & they seem to know & eat comfortably, & yes, when they eat the bird seed they usually drink some lake water at the same time...I have put some videos online & told people their location & it appears that some other people are bringing some food too- though I am hoping they will bring larger quantities next time...
ReplyDeleteAgain, Thank You!
We occasionally get the odd night at those sort of temperatures but rarely. This winter we have had around -10 but our wildfowl manage perfectly well. I had a look at your video of the Trumpeters at bluffers cove, beautiful birds !
ReplyDeleteFunny, when it's down to survival even the Mallards have no fear of the Swans - All in the same boat I reckon ! You are doing a great job there, the word will get around the Bird world ! I will put a link to your swans videos if you don't mind. http://grovecanada.blogspot.com/2010_12_07_archive.html#6403333730258330594#links
(OOps! delete the first version-I made a stupid typo-here is corrected version) Sari Grove...
ReplyDeleteThank you for the link! here is a link to Last Sunday's video...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lc3GhGwMYcI
I just got back from feeding the Trumpeter's today!
I talk to them alot, & they listen & talk back sometimes...
Today there were 3 new ones with tags (H11, L02, I50) & 3 without tags (means they are under one year old)...(I had to tell I50 that it was fine to eat the bird seed, that it wasn't poisoned & that I was NOT going to trap them or anything-then she ate...-our Ontario Trumpeters were raised captive then released into the wild in 2007, so they are very civilized)...
The two that live there year round must have been hiding...(S08, O83) I call them Hamlet & Ophelia...
(I don't take too many photos since the ones here always walk away when I point the camera at them...)