Irish Guitarist wrote: » The park in county Carlow attracts a lot of fishermen. Actually fishermen is the wrong word as most of the people that go fishing here are kids. These kids frequently fish just a few feet away from the local swan population. As a result of this, swans often have the misfortune to get caught up in fishing lines. In the last three or four weeks I've witnessed three swans being caught in fishing lines. The last incident was especially disturbing as the poor swan had a fishing line going all the way from his bill to his foot. Anytime this swan moved he almost got strangled as the line was also wrapped around his neck. After a while he started to drool and could barely close his bill. I tried in vain to phone the Carlow branch of the ISPCA but couldn't reach them. I then returned to the park and asked the park warden if he could do anything. Here's how the conversation went - Me - "Excuse me, does anyone look after those swans?" Warden - "Yes." Me - "There's a swan caught in a fishing line. Could you phone someone?" Warden - "That's ok." Me - "There's a swan DYING!" Warden - "That's ok, people are allowed to fish here." This warden had very poor English skills and seemed to think I was complaining about some kids fishing nearby. A similar incident happened a few weeks ago. I told a different warden that a swan had gotten caught in a fishing line. He looked out at the river at the swan in distress and laughed. I asked could he phone someone and he said something in Polish and then he pretty much laughed in my face before he went back to drinking his coffee and talking to his friend. Before anyone accuses me of being against Polish immigrants, I'm not, I'm just describing how hard it is to get anyone to help the swans here. I think the Carlow county council needs to take better care of these swans. One option would be to ban fishing from certain parts of the river (I know I'll be unpopular for even suggesting that). Another option would be to employ someone to look after the swans. Right now it seems that the ISPCA isn't even active in Carlow. As for the last swan I saw get caught in a fishing line, I think he is ok. I left a message with the main branch of the ISPCA and they phoned me back to say someone had went out to help. I don't know what happened after that as the man that phoned couldn't tell me any more. This swan had brown markings on his head and I have since seen a swan with markings in a similar pattern, so I guess it's the same one.
Kaldorn wrote: » I know its not related but i was driving down the strawberry beds this morning and the cars where backed up a good bit and i noticed it was a swan in the middle of the road,when i eventually got up to him he started to bash the mirroe and the door and the window with his beak..have no idea why he was attacking cars
Fighting Irish wrote: » The whole country is ****ed and you want the CC to use their money to protect some swans
Irish Guitarist wrote: » I haven't looked back at this thread for a while and I just saw this comment. Did you not notice this thread is in the "Nature & Bird Watching" section? If you don't care about nature or birds why would you even bother reading anything here? And I don't see how it would cost any extra money to protect "some swans". There's already a park warden there, all the council have to do is to tell him to keep an eye on the swans while he's walking past them. It also wouldn't cost much to put up a sign or two telling people to be careful and not to discard their fishing lines. One reason the country is in the state it is is because more and more Irish people think of nothing but themselves. If you do insist on putting a price tag on everything though, you should consider how many people these swans attract. They're a tourist attraction. Most tourists come to Ireland because it's supposedly green and beautiful and because the people are supposedly so friendly. If Irish people continue to disrespect nature and wildlife (and other people) no one will ever want to come here on holiday again. I know I certainly wouldn't want to visit a country that's full of people that think of nothing but their own wealth. I fail to see how letting swans be strangled to death is going to help the economy.
stevoman wrote: » Not a great comment IMO. So what if the country is in a recession. We as humans have been given the gift to be able to manage their habitats. I think County Council money would be better spent on maintaining wildlife than say, building incinerators.
stick-dan wrote: » It is sickening! The swans in carlow are very beautiful and a great asset to the county. There really is no quick fix solution to this. A warden would be a help but he's not going to be able to watch every swan intently. And if a swan is in distress what is the warden to do. Wardens would need to be specially trained for such occurences as swans are extremely violent and tempermental creatures at times. And even if we get a warden it would be after the busy season where all the kids will be fishing and this will have already taken it's toll. Is there an alternate fishing area in the town away from the swans? Maybe this would be a good solution to move the people away.
stevoman wrote: » even a few signs for anglers to be aware an careful would help. its very little but a start. of course it would probobly take about a 1 hour chat on joe duffy and an intervention from a TD to even get that one!:rolleyes:
getz wrote: » i notice that in this weeks angling times ,is a photo of a swan that has killed a fox that tried to take its eggs-the swan has left the fox next to her nest as a warning to other enemies
