'Team Effort': Neighbors Help Rescue 2 Rare Black Swans On LI

SOUTHOLD, NY — Two rare Australian black swans spotted in Southold creeks in recent days are safe — thanks to the efforts of neighbors who joined hands and kayaks and formed a human chain to keep them protected until help arrived.

The swans, because they are domesticated and were likely abandoned by whoever owned them, were unable to defend themselves against wild swans that were attacking them, neighbors said.

But on Wednesday, rescuers said help was on the way.

The Suffolk Times first reported that the swans were seen by Tony Bellissimo in Corey Creek. On Wednesday, according to Deb Stroup of Peconic, the swans were seen by Andrew Semon and Patricia Conklin in Jockey Creek.

Semon's neighbors tried to protect the black swans from the white swans, who are aggressive, Stroup said. "They jumped on their boards and herded the swans up Jockey Creek, away from the white swans," she said.

"People need to hear that they are in danger," Stroup said Wednesday. "These poor things are tame and defenseless. They are not suited for the wild."

After a Patch story about the swans, Glenna Ryan was outside her home on Goose Greek Thursday morning and spotted the swans. Her husband, Don, recognized the swans from the Patch article and reached out, as directed by John Di Leonardo, president of Long Island Orchestrating for Nature, with the swans' new location.

Next, Dana Kuhl and her children Sophia and Nick LaPorta, as well as her parents, William and Rena Kuhl, spotted the swans.

Kuhl and her daughter set out on the water and were later joined by fellow kayakers Kathleen Foley and Cathy Sleckman.

Di Leonardo said he first got a call to help the swans from a representative of the Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center in Hampton Bays.

(Video courtesy Dana Kuhl)

Di Leonardo, who has been working hard to try and locate the bull on the loose in Mastic, headed out Southold to rescue the swans, which are known for their distinctive, bright red bills. He was also joined by Karen Testa of the Turtle Rescue of the Hamptons.

After hours on the water, when Di Leonardo arrived, the kayakers formed a human perimeter to corral the swans toward where he was waiting to capture them with a large net.

Di Leonardo said the swans will stay with him until he decides which of the sanctuaries that have offered to take them will be the best match.

Without a full examination, Di Leonardo said he noticed that one of the swans had damage on its foot, possibly a staph infection that can prove deadly but is treatable; both are very thin and malnourished, he said.

"I'm sure they'll make it — but I'm glad we got them when we did," he said. "I'm sure they were starving."

(Video courtesy Karen Testa)

One indication that they were domesticated was that the swans eagerly ate, despite the people trying to rein them in, he said. "A wild animal wouldn't have done that," he said.

The black swans, he said, did not know how to forage or defend themselves; they are not indigenous to the area and were likely raised in captivity, Di Leonardo said. Australia also has a very different climate, he said. "Come winter, they'd be dead. But they'd likely have been dead before that. They don't know our natural predators and they don't have a healthy fear of humans, as they should."

The wild swans trying to attack the black swans were just trying to defend their families and shouldn't be blamed, Di Leonardo said.

It's humans who are at fault for abandoning them, he said. "Whoever let them go, left them to a death sentence," he said.

Also, introducing the swans was disruptive to the entire ecosystem; they might have killed a wild swan — or, they might have spread infection, Di Leonardo said. Fowl abandonment has a detrimental effect from health, welfare, and environmental standpoints, he said.

Di Leonardo reminded that it is a crime to abandon a domesticated animal in the wild.

He added that anyone who sees a domesticated swan or other waterfowl should not feed them bread; it can cause serious health problems. Bread is used for bait to help rescue swans but should not be used for feeding.

Wild waterfowl should be left to forage for food on their own, Di Leonardo said. But, during the winter months if wild swans or other waterfowl are hungry and people want to feed them, the best choice is Missouri Waterfowl Feed, he said.

Reflecting on the rescue, Dana Kuhl said: "Today was such an exciting day for our family. Per our usual routine, we woke up and headed outside to check out the bird activity. We are accustomed to the great egret who has his favorite spot and the osprey fishing for their breakfast and the little song sparrow that has increasingly become more brave and sings and calls to his friends. But today we had the privilege to see a very rare sight — a bird that we would typically never see here and certainly would not find in our North American birding books or on our Cornell Merlin ID app. We spotted two black swans across the creek with our binoculars and were beyond thrilled to see them. Although we had read that they were here we did not expect to see them."

Describing the swans, Dana added: "Wow, they are truly spectacular creatures. What we didn’t know is that our day was going to turn into a find and rescue. We felt honored to be part of the rescue team. Our family loved the opportunity to help rescue these non-native swans which we learned were unable to survive in the wild by themselves."

(Video courtesy Dana Kuhl)

Sophia agreed: “I thought it was an amazing experience to be able to rescue these creatures who needed help. I feel so grateful to be part of this rescue mission. It feels great to have helped these animals.”

Dana said the experience was one that she will remember forever. “Today was such a special day. I too feel so grateful to have been part of the 'Great Goose Creek Black Swan Rescue Crew'. It was a privilege and honor to be able to watch the swans and help secure their safety for a healthy life. When we all come together to help anything is possible.”

Foley and Sleckman agreed: "It was very moving to see the swan embrace the rescuer. We were very happy to help in the rescue," they said.

Testa said she was grateful for animal advocates on the East End. "The public is our eyes and we are thankful for that as we are working tirelessly every day in the hospital and cannot be out in the field," she said.

Of the rescue, Ryan added: "It was awesome. It was a great team effort."

Di Leonardo said anyone who spots domestic or non-native waterfowl abandoned in the wild should contact LION so the animal can be evaluated and helpd. "But compassionate people don't need to wait for distressed birds to show up in their backyards in order to help them," Di Leonardo said. "The best way to help birds and other animals is to go vegan, saving the lives of nearly 200 animals every year simply by keeping them off their plates."