Rescue swan gets new home at Idle Valley Nature Reserve
Monday 24th October
A majestic mute swan was released at the Idle Valley Nature Reserve after holding up traffic during rush hour near Bothamsall, north Nottinghamshire. Early morning drivers cared enough to slow down, stop and call the police when the swan just couldn’t quite get enough lift to ‘take off’.
The police immediately called around rescue organisations and were quickly referred to local ornithologist Adrian Blackburn, secretary of the North Notts Ringing Group and local rep for the British Trust for Ornithology. Adrian rescued the swan and checked it over thoroughly before releasing it at Idle Valley Nature Reserve later the same morning.
Adrian explained ‘swans sometimes land on wet or damp roads mistaking them for rivers and they find it difficult to take off from solid ground, they really need to take off from water. This particular swan was a very healthy specimen…it just tired itself out and the dipping pond at Idle Valley is the perfect place for it to recuperate. If a member of the public finds a swan stranded on the road, then without endangering themselves they should try and coax the swan on to the verge and then contact the local police or RSPCA as soon as possible’.
After a slightly ungraceful launch into the dipping pond, the swan immediately resumed its’ natural elegance and made a full recovery.
Idle Valley Reserve Officer James Simpson added ‘This was one of those occasions when everyone played a part in protecting wildlife; the drivers who cared enough to slow down, the police who hunted around for expert advice, the individuals who volunteer their time to carry out these specialised tasks and the Wildlife Trust who provide the protected environments for wildlife to live and thrive. If a member of the public finds a wounded wild animal or bird, we suggest they contact the RSPCA for advice first.’
