After failing to release Natalie the first time, I called on a few swans to help me! Actually I called on another wildlife carer who had two swans in care. I needed some swans to show Natalie that she’s not ‘just like me’, but is rather, just like them! We always try to pair up animals of the same species so they identify with their own species rather than identifying with their carer. Pairing animals together helps them learn from each other – they learn the natural behaviors that carers can’t teach! However it depends when animals arrive into care and their stage of development and which carers has what! Since these two swans had recently come into care, I could match them with Natalie so she could learn. Natalie wasn’t too sure about these strange birds walking around her garden!
Natalie looked at the ’strange creatures’ and went into hiding! Enny is a large male swan and Tenny is a smaller, possibly female swan.
Eventually though, curiosity took over and the distance between them reduced.
Little Tenny following Natalie.
Before too long – bonding! Although still a little distance….
Then even closer! Are Natalie’s maternal instinct taking over? Is that why she’s beginning to preen the younger Tenny?
Natalie, Tenny and Enny are now ready for release! Their own little flock! The three swans were placed in crates and taken to a large lake.
A few local Moorhens came to watch the action – as we opened the crates by the water. Then we waited… Animals are never chased out of crates – we sit and watch until they are ready. Enny raced out as soon as the crate opened. Tenny came out next and finally Natalie, who followed them into the water.
That’s how easy it should be…
Be free Natalie – with your friends. Enjoy your wild life!
❤️ Thanks for the memories. ❤️
Please do not feed wildlife – especially swans! Feeding swans (and other waterbirds) pollutes the water – their home. The food given by people is not the swan’s natural feed so it floats on the surface of the water which means that swans do not use their natural feed position (plunging their head under water) to eat. Feeding swans also makes them less vary of humans and I have seen the deliberate and horrific injuries inflicted on wildlife by some members of the public. So please, if you love our wildlife, watch them, marvel at their beauty, but please leave them to do what comes naturally to them. Thank you! xx
Working with Australian Wildlife - Helen Hardy 