Geese get Goosed

This is an article from the Pine Mountain Lake Association. The Canadian Geese took over the lake in large numbers and became a bit of a problem. They were a nice site to see. Everyone would go AHHH. That is until they stepped onto the lovely grass at the Main Marina! Wow! Just a tad bit messy. Here are Bonnie and Clyde, They Rob Lakes...of geese, that is. Who Knew?

October 2008 PML News
Director’s Corner
Swans at Pine Mountain Lake
by Mike Gustafson

I would like to introduce you to our newest PML employees, Bonnie and Clyde. Bonnie and Clyde are a mated pair of English Muted Swans (Cygnus Olor). These swans can stand up to 5 feet tall and have a wingspan of up to 7 feet. The swans were purchased from a swan breeder in the Chicago area for the purpose of chasing Canada geese off our lake. As you know we have a very serious problem with Canada geese and swans have been known to clear lakes, ponds and inland waterways of geese. Swans, which are the largest waterfowl,are very territorial and, over time,will chase away other large waterfowl that they think are a threat to their food source and nests.

I spoke to a couple of reference accounts of this breeder and they confirmed that swans alone were successful in chasing geese away on their ponds. We are eager to begin the “swan experiment” here.

Right now the swans are in a temporary pen so they can get acclimated to our lake and climate. Compared to the climate in Chicago, these swans probably think they have died and gone to heaven! They will be released to roam our lake by the time you read this. They will get most of their food from the lake and will require only minimal supplemental feeding during the coldest part of the winter. They have a special diet pellet, which is very inexpensive, and will be provided by PML staff when needed.

Please note that swans can be aggressive about protecting “their” lake, so we all need to absolutely not feed them under any condition. Once swans learn that humans have food they could start bothering folks on the beach and out on boats. So if you are out on the lake and see Bonnie and Clyde cruising past you at “swan” speed, give them a wave and hello, but nothing else!

Swan's on Pine Mountain Lake - Update posted in PML News Dec. 2008 issue