Forum Topic

Baby swans (emergency?)

Hi, earlier this evening I was down taking pics of the 4 baby swans. They were in the waterfall area between The Island and Brentford Lock. I hope you know where this is.Later we saw from our flat that the babies were not able to get up to the water (mooring area). They just kept sliding down.They still haven't managed to do it.There was one lady there which managed to help up 2 of the babies, but they went down again, probably wanted back to the others, even though both parents were up.Later, 2 boys came and built a sort of bridge of some wooden planks. The bridge is still there, but I guess the babies are too exhausted to even try. The heron has been around several times. Do you think it can take any of the babies?I think the only solution is to stop the water. It sometimes flow underground instead of through the waterfall. Anyone knows who control this?I'm just very concerned for those cute babies.Thanks.

Jorgen Molna ● 6591d24 Comments

Thank you for keeping us informed.

Joan Perry ● 6579d

Nice pics :)Yesterday I counted 3 baby swans.

Jorgen Molna ● 6581d

Classified as pests, really.  Let's hope the 7 eggs hatch successfully.  You said, one of your floating bird homes? Sounds interesting.

Joan Perry ● 6583d

Migrating Joan? They are supposed to be, but like many others they find England too attractive to leave, and as illegal immigrants they proliferate to the detriment of indigenous species. As a consequence they are classified as pests, only the swans are big enough to see them off their territory.That said, we have a coot nesting in one of my floating bird homes, and I've seen the father managing to shoo off the geese! We are looking forward to seeing the 7 eggs hatch.

Nigel Moore ● 6583d

Could I share with you some of my daughter's animals. I am babysitting 2 children - and the rest!!Here are Daniel and Alex.Oscar the cat. Looks innocent, but is not.Oscar in trouble.New puppy, Ruby, Innocent, NO!Stop herding the chooks Ruby. Oh no a new mum, babies to chase!!Breeding Japanese Fighting Fish!Not another new mum.By the end of the day I'll sit and admire the sunset out in the bush!!!I'll be a busy Mum this weekend. But at least I get Oscar to sleep with me.  Joan

Joan Perry ● 6584d

How long do they stay in your area?  Are they migrating birds?    I am an animal lover. Here is a photo of a wild cockatoo that frequents our garden. Gives a good bite too, look at his beak!!Joan.

Joan Perry ● 6584d

Usually the one baby Goose family frequents our basin daily, but last week another Canadian Goose family came into our basin, with 6 babies:

Nigel Moore ● 6584d

Makes a great desktop background,lovely pics

Anne Ira Wiltshire ● 6584d

It's a cutie.  I love the cute stories and photo's.  Well done Jorgen.  Joan.

Joan Perry ● 6584d

The first goose baby. Not as cute as the swans, but still :)

Jorgen Molna ● 6584d

The waterfall was actually empty for one week after their birth. Might not be related, but this is the first time the waterfall has been empty (and silent!) for more than 2 hours since we moved in in 2005. It was good to be able to have the balcony door open during the weekend and bedroom window open during night :o)The waterfall is one of the reasons we're moving to Ferry Quays in about a month.

Jorgen Molna ● 6588d

So sad to hear only two may have survived, but that's nature at work.  I just wanna give them a big hug, but I'm sure in return I'll get a huge peck.  Great photos by all.  Off topic.  Love the coloured canal boats.Joan.

Joan Perry ● 6589d

Tragedies happen, sometimes none survive, but it isn’t necessarily the weak, just the unfortunate. We had one year when 4 or 5 cygnets grew to adulthood – they got so big and took up so much room I may be confused as to the number!In 2005 we had 3 grow up who visited each day. Most of the birds like to rest up on the slipway:They also like the shallow time for wading and feeding:After awhile parents and babies get to trust their neighbours considerably:

Nigel Moore ● 6589d

Jorgen,Perhaps you could speak to British Waterways. They may have contingency plans for something like this. There used to be a lock keeper up at Hanwell.Maybe they can helpGood luck

Keith Iddon ● 6589d

I'm afraid there seems to be only 2 babies left.If true, it's sad, but I think it's usual that only about 2 survives. Natures way to take out the week ones.

Jorgen Molna ● 6589d

Jorgen, please keep an eye out for them. It was lovely to hear what those boys had done trying to help them. I too love the close up. They are such beautiful specimens on this earth.

Joan Perry ● 6590d

Yes, it was taken before.I'll certainly continue keeping an eye on them.There should be bunches of duck babies soon too. The male ducks have been swimming around alone for quite some time now :)

Jorgen Molna ● 6590d

Fab pictures Jorgen... especially that close up one!Joan: I believe that the pictures were taken ..before the incident!  My friend here tells me that the adult swans would have seen them through their difficulty.  Again loved the fluffy picture!

Jim Lawes ● 6590d

Aren't they just gorgeous. What a happy ending. Great pictures. Well done Jorgen.Regards,Joan.

Joan Perry ● 6590d

Yeah, I actually saw 2 herons there around 9:30, never seen more than one (a regular) before.Here are pics (if I remember how to post them, trying with html first):

Jorgen Molna ● 6591d

JorgenIn response to your SOS, I thought.. at 10pm.. "how can I sit here posting to the Forum about Brentford High Street"...when my athletic help might be needed at Brentford Lock!  So I jumped in my van(!) and drove to the Holiday Inn, parked (10.15pm) and looked around the lock, waterfall and pedestrian bridge but it was all peaceful. No-one around!I stood at the top of the "enlongated waterfall" which allows water from the higher level of the Canal to the north....to ease down the gentle cascade of the waterfall to the lower level of the Canal going southways towards Brentford Bridge.I saw the planks of wood which may have been used  and then...I saw a waiting heron looking sad and withdrawn..as though he hadn't had a meal for ages!Seeing that there was nothing I could do..I retreated to the Magpie and Crown for a pint of Itchen Ale..and listened to the Manager Steve telling me about his ghost!Hope all is well in the morning.

Jim Lawes ● 6591d

I hope that these cygnets are safe and reunited with their parents. Also good to hear that the 'boys' built a bridge, good to read something positive about youths.

Gareth Evans ● 6591d

Good news (I hope)I've just been down there and no swans to see. I hope they all 6 have left together, I walked around The Island, but nowhere to see.The "bridge" those boys built seems to be very good and probably helped the babies up.I'll show you some pics tomorrow :)

Jorgen Molna ● 6591d

Oh dear ..that's a sad tale.Fingers crossed!

Jim Lawes ● 6591d

It's gotten worse. The 2 parent swans have now left the babies alone in the waterfall. I saw one sliding all the way down, maybe down to the water in front of Brentford Lock flats, but it's dark so I'm not sure he got all the way down (dissappeared under the bridge basically).

Jorgen Molna ● 6591d