A LOCAL man recently came to the aid of a family of swans who had ‘swan-dered’ far from home.
Two adult swans and their six signets caused a stir one evening when they appeared in the Daisy Close area. Local residents tried to help the swans – and it appeared that their efforts had been a success when the family moved on.
However, when local man Nigel Watson returned home in the early hours of the morning, he discovered that the swans were still lost and far from their natural habitat.
“I came home that morning at 5.30am and was met by the family of the swans on the corner of where I live,” Nigel told Melksham News. “And at that point, they looked quite distressed – lost and disoriented – and maybe suffering from heatstroke and dehydration.
With the morning rush hour fast approaching, a concerned Nigel corralled the swans into his garden.
“We managed to give them some water,” said Nigel, “and they made themselves at home in our dog’s paddling pool! By the time they had some water and food they started to perk up – I think we caught them just in time. At one point they all huddled up and had a nap!
“They stayed with us for about five hours until the RSPCA inspector came.”
With the help of Nigel, the RSPCA inspector released the family of swans at the River Avon in King George V park.
Nigel said, “They wandered out of the RSPCA van as if nothing had happened, went down onto the river and swam off – not even a thank you!
“It was a surreal experience – it’s not every day you’re met by eight swans outside your house!
“Being a nation of animal lovers, there was no way I could have left them to carry on wandering around in distress.”