To avoid the park the next few weeks

[Theswansofvanderlyle]

At some point in September I started feeding the ducks and swans and cygnets at our local park: I’m not particularly an animal lover or anything, but the the idea of them being hungry made me a bit sad

anyway, I’ve ended up feeding them most days since.

last week I noticed that the swans were behaving a bit different. The adults were further away from the kids. So I realised they would probably be about to flee the nest.

talking to one of the guys who has been visiting the ducks every day for years he told me that they have now kicked one of the cygnets out of the group: so it’s time for it to move on. I asked if I should continue feeding it, and he said he knows it’s hard, but it’s kinder not to feed it because it will hang around and the parents may kill it (apparently they did kill one last year)

I can’t imagine not giving a starving wee Swan any food. I’m thinking to avoid the park until they move on, as I can’t trust myself not to feed the kicked out swan. Aibu?

What makes you think it's starving? What are you feeding it? Carry on going to the park, but have a bit of self control and leave the food at home.

Bird seed! I’m just worried that by continuing to feed it, I’ll encourage it to hang around which will mean its parents may kill it.
but at the same time I hate the idea of it being hungry. But : you’re right. I have not idea if it’s hungry or not

Animals should have a natural fear of man. I have seen Swan siblings being territorial on the canal (I am on there most days).... they will most definitely attack each other..... the Swan is not starving, trust me.

Swans are arseholes. Beautiful, but arseholes. When I lived rurally, the ones in the local lake injured dogs on quite a regular basis. Serves the owners right, swans are territorial.

If the young swan has been kicked out of the group, it will move on or suffer the consequences.
Nature is not always a fairy tale.

I agree, avoid the park for a while

Why do think swans are incapable of feeding themselves?

If you hadnt been feeding them all this time (ie teaching them to rely on you for food) they will do what birds naturally do - find their own natural source of food instinctively.

Stop feeding the swans until you've either read up on their care or spoken to an expert.
Sorry, but they are not 'starving'. That's just your perception.

I am sure the swan has also found food when you are not there OP. If you stop feeding it it will find more of that food and move on. I would definitely have to avoid the park because I am just like you! I am sad even thinking about your cygnet but that’s life. And the reason I don’t watch Springwatch.

What do you think happens to all the swans, all over the country/world, that you don't feed? Do you think they're starving because you're not feeding them too?

Aww this post made me sad 😄

Animals are different from us, I'm sure he's okay

Were the swans regularly dying before you started feeding them? Were they very very thin and emaciated?
I don’t understand why you think they are starving and you’re somehow saving them?

They’re in a natural environment which they choose to stay in. They’re fine. Stop feeding them. You’re not doing it for them, you’re doing it for you. And you’re doing more harm than good.