Swans on Long Island!

Swans are one of the very common sights for anybody visiting one of the many lakes or ponds and not to mention the bays here on Long Island. They seem to dazzle people with their seemingly elegant beauty. Although those who have been lulled into a false sense of reality may approach them soon find out, "ouch", they bite!

Like any wild animal when they snap they are just trying to protect their home. And rightfully they are doing that, right? According to the DEC Department of Environmental conservation "Mute Swans are a non-native, invasive species." They were brought here in the 1800s because they are aesthetically pleasing.

"The largest known releases occurred from 1910-1912 and consisted of about 500 birds. By 1993, New York's mute swan population had increased to about 2,000. The population peaked at more than 2,800 birds in 2002 and is currently estimated at about 2,200 birds statewide."
https://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7076.html <<< (also cited from)

So they don't belong here and their invasive?, But they are so cute. I hope I don't get too much flack for my opinion here. While I would agree they have an artistic look about them, I don't find them the least bit cute. I understand their nastiness towards humans, but I don't understand the conflict they get into with other animals. It is a very common thing to see swans chasing geese and ducks around, the rightful natives of the area. lol If you find that cute, have at it Hoss. It seems to me that they are not naturalized.

Naturalized in a biological sense would mean that they were introduced and flourishing without negatively effecting the ecosystem. Rising rapidly in population and getting into conflict with the native species seems to me to not fit.

Through a little internet research, I find I'm not the only one who feels the way I do. There are now efforts to reduce their populations according to this CBS news story, http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2017/09/12/battle-brewing-over-new-plan-to-reduce-invasive-swan-population-on-long-island/.

Very soon here on long Island the Canada Geese will start mucking about the ponds. With the extra animal taking real estate the swans get testy and start attacking birds at all angles. (I would argue that those geese and their ancestors were migrating to these locations long before the swans were brought.) I plan to film it and extend this piece, it really shows a dark side to this pearl white bird.

It's not out of hatred but love of wildlife, an imbalance could be detrimental for the native species. So elegant and beautiful, or nasty and invasive?

Thank you for reading!!! I hope I am not misread. :)

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