Swan pen chase

Concerned locals and visitors contacted Broads Watch about a female member of the swan colony with a luminous lure, line and hook wrapped round her neck. This particular spirited swan led us on a merry dance up and down and around bridge reach of the River Bure for two days. 

Sick animals often hold back from their peers, staying on the fringes of the herd. This habit ineviatably hinders collection of poorly wildlife. 

Even though she was distressed and increasingly in pain, the pen soon realised she was a target when nets were slung over the sides of the boats in readiness to capture her. Andrew, Ken and Chris managed to track her, with another pair of swans to Daisy Broad in Hoveton. The trio were cornered at the dead end of a cut adjoining an old boat yard. 

A gentleman kindly came and tried to encourage her out of the water at the slipway. Alas, she was much too weary. Being incredibly dextrious, the pen managed to slip behind the stern of the launch we were using to hem her in. 

The following day, we set out on a shallower built dory boat. Paul joined us as we went on several laps hunting her, to the amusement and intrigue of specatators watching from the river banks and foot bridge. The plucky swan headed into Granary dyke, whereupon we ferry glided the best we could (that is to propel the boat sideways). The plan again was to corner the swan using the broadside of the boat ~ hopefully making capture much easier. This time a few dozen swans were paddling in company with the stubborn patient. 

Paul accidently hooked the wrong swan with the rescue pole. While retreiving the pole, Paul lost his spectacles over the side and "received a fat lip from a well aimed wing slap" 

The second time around we managed to close in and grab the marked swan. She was placed in the swan holdall and carried off to a quiet place to be detached from her man~made manacles. The hook had penetrated trough the feathers to the skin. When cleaned with water and treated with antispectic, it was decided (following consulatation) that she was sufficiently in rude health to rejoin the priceless mute swan colony.

Chris, Andrew