A lonely tundra swan spotted on the frozen surface of Big Lake is probably doomed, say local birders.
Hermi Pichl was one of several St. Albert residents who spotted an adult tundra swan wandering about a shrinking spot of open water on Big Lake earlier this week.
Local birders familiar with the situation say that the bird was likely part of a large flock of tundra swans that left the lake earlier this month after a major snowfall. “This little fellow was obviously left behind,” Pichl said.
Swans need open water to survive and fly, Pichl said, and the lake is rapidly freezing over. “It needs to be rescued.” She called the RCMP, fire department and Alberta Fish and Wildlife about the bird, but none seemed interested in a rescue.
Warren Olsen, a volunteer with the Strathcona Raptor Shelter, said he checked on the swan Monday and Wednesday at Pichl’s request. “He was quite alert,” he said of the bird, but was also walking on thin ice, making it too dangerous to try and catch it.
This swan was likely too young, weak, old, sick or injured to fly south, said Karl Grantmyre, director of the raptor shelter. “We would actively discourage anyone from trying to catch the bird at this time,” he added, as the ice was very dangerous.
The swan used to be paired up with a grey, juvenile one in Riel Pond on Nov. 10, noted local birder Ludo Bogaert, but the juvenile seems to have moved on. He had also spotted the swan hanging out with northern pintails and mallards.
Bogaert and other birders reached by the Gazette agreed that the swan was probably doomed. “When it gets colder and the water freezes over, it is, no pun intended, a dead duck.” He suspected that a coyote would likely eat it.
This is an unfortunate situation, said city environmental manager Leah Jackson, one that also happens every year. “It’s natural selection.” Even if the bird were captured, she added, it might die from the stress.
Pichl wondered why the city didn’t have the means to rescue stranded animals like this, suggesting that a dinghy could reach the swan. “We fly to the moon and we can’t go out to a lake and rescue an animal in distress.”
Olsen said his group has had little success in helping captured swans in the past. About all anyone can do for this bird at this point is provide it with food and hope it moves onto land for capture.
“The longer he’s out there, the less chance (of survival) and the colder it gets,” he said. “It doesn’t look good.”
Anyone who spots a wild animal in distress should call the raptor shelter at 780-922-3024 or the Wildlife Rehabilitation Society of Edmonton at 780-914-4118 for advice.
