A site dedicated to sharing general care of mute swans
Header

THE SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT

March 3rd, 2021 | Posted by LadyNerkle1 in OOPs MOTHER NATURE SURPRISED US. - (Comments Off on THE SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT)

The SWANS were NOT in their Winter Wake.

SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT

To Enlarge Images – Right Click Image then Open in a New Tab.

SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT

In Late April of 2008.. We Arranged a Private Property Sanctuary Home
for “Handsome Fellow.” We had Rescued him in July 2007.

SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT

We had Care for him in Several Places during his LONG Months of Recovery.. “Handsome” had his Entire Left Wing Removed to Save his Life.

SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT

Thank YOU to ALL… Who Helped us with this BIG Project..
…One Day at a Time.

SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT

It was Time for a Real Pond. And No More Vet Visits.

SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT

“Handsome” was Finally Swimming Freely on a Large Pond.. but Alone.

SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT

We “Adopted” a Young Female at a LiveStock Auction.. Scared Little Thing.

SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT

“Handsome” Immediately Took Care of Little “Hannah.”
We Learned SOOooo Much from this Introduction.

SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT

Spring turned to Summer.. We were Thrilled with our Arrangement.

SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT

This Private Pond was a Wonderful Place 10 Minutes from our Home.

SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT

We Visited with the Swans almost Every Day. They were Thriving.

SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT

Trust had Developed.

SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT

The Summer Days passed TOO Quickly.

SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT

The Lush Summer Green will Soon Turn to Gold.. and Leaves will Fall.

SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT

The Swans would often Come to Greet us.
Of Course we were the Lunch Wagon. (With Treats)

SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT

Various Trees were Turning Colors.. Warning of the Change of Season..

SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT

We knew little about what to Expect in the Coming Winter Months

SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT

In Early November we had an Air-O-Lator Aerator/DeIcing Unit Installed.

SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT

We were Preparing for our First Winter with Swans on this Pond.

SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT

Being a Data Nerd, I Placed a High-Low Thermometer in the Electric Panel Box.
I Hoped to Predict when we Needed to Turn the Air-O-Lator on.

SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT

After Chilly November Nights Various Areas of the Pond would have some Ice.

SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT

Watching “Hannah” – She was Very Annoyed with the Ice..

SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT

Several Nights we Turned the Air-O-Lator ON – Just in Case..

SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT

The Ice would Form in Different Places Depending on the Breezes.

SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT

The Golf Course Grounds were a Beautiful Place to go on Snowy Days..

SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT

We were So LUCKY to have the Privilege of Spending Time here.

SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT

We were Learning More about the Tolerance Swans have for Cold Weather.

SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT

Both Swans were OK.. No Shivering.. Well Fed they were at Home OutSide.

SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT

It was Interesting to Observed the Freezing Process of the Pond.

SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT

The Shallow End of the Pond had Surface Ice many Mornings.

SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT

The Late Fall Sun was Getting Lower – Less SunLight to Warm the Water.

SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT
SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT

During the Month of November the Pond was Always Partially Free of Ice.

SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT

Dealing with Ice is not Instinctual for Swans.
In True Wild Swan Populations, the Parents will Teach
their Young or take them to Warmer Areas.. Migrate.

SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT

The Local Forecast did not Suggest the Pond would Freeze OverNight..
A SURPRISE to us ALL.. ! !

SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT

We did not have the Air-O-lator Unit Turned ON.. UGH !!!

SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT

We Turned the Air-O-Lator on ASAP ! !
Within Minutes it was Thawing the Ice.

SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT

There was a Thin Skim of Ice Covering the Entire Pond..

SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT

NOW we NEEDED to FIND the SWANs..
I am Trying to Control a Feeling of Panic.

SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT
SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT

It was the First Winter for Both Swans on this Large Irrigation Pond.

SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT

They are OK !!! They were in a Small Channel of Open Water.

SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT

“Handsome” (? 10 Years Old) was Staying with Little “Hannah”
( 17 Months Old) and Keeping her Safe.

SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT

OH MY ! .. How will we get them back to the Open Water..

SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT

In a Short Time the Sun Melted the Ice at the Upper End of the Pond. YEAH !

SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT

We Decided to “Baiting” the Swans with Greens.. They are Hungry.

SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT

Rob used a Large Branch shaped like a Hockey Stick to Break a Channel along the Opposite Bank.

SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT

Little “Hannah” wanted the Lettuce and the Swans Swam over to me.

SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT

I Sprinkled Lettuce in the Broken Channel.. They Started to Munch.

SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT
SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT
SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT
SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT

“Hannah” was very Nervous with all the ICE Creeping over their Pond.

SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT
SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT
SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT
SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT
SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT
SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT
SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT
SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT
SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT
SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT
SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT
SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT
SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT
SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT
SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT
SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT
SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT

A BIG Relief..

SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT

BIG Learning Curve that Winter.. ONLY Happened that One Night.

SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT

The Days of December were Mixed with Icy and Open Water Zones.

SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT
SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT

Each Time we have Moved our Swans to a New Pond,
they Needed to Learn about the Icing on their New Home Pond.
The First Year is the Trickiest for Both the Swans and their CareTakers..

SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT

Each Day the Changing Icy Patterns were Beautiful.. We Enjoy this Time.

SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT
SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT
SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT
SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT

One Night they Braved Walking over the Thin Ice.. Successfully.

SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT
SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT
SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT

December Days became Routine. Our Swans did Well.

SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT
SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT

We were able to Worry Less.. We had ALL Learned.

********************************************************************

This Little Story of a “Freeze Out” was a Learning Experience for Us.
The Swans Quickly Learned.. After this Day they Stayed in the Open Water
and Spent Time on the Entire Pond on the Days the Ice would Thaw.
Compiled March 2021 ..(c) Linda M.Sweger

********************************************************************

In Late December the Swans Started to Court.. A Sweet Display of Affection.

SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT
SWAN POND FROZE OVERNIGHT