August had the MKSR team flapping and flailing as the month has started with some significant rescues. From helping an injured young gosling, to dealing with a tragic incident that nearly resulted in two deaths and a large cob that can give the team a run for their money.
It’s been chaotic and emotionally demanding but nothing compared to the profound sense of fulfilment we feel after a successful rescue and a happy head bob from a grateful swan.
This roundup also marks the return of our volunteer Maya, who first became involved with MK Swan rescue two years ago. Now returning as a volunteer writer, she will be helping us share stories behind our rescues and exploring wider issues affecting local waterfowl.
Here are some of the recent rescue stories our team have been busy with in August:
1. Goose Gash
August started with a challenging rescue when a resident, Stevie, who regularly keeps a caring eye on the area’s goose flock, noticed something unusual about a young gosling. He contacted our rescue team, and Gemma, one of our brave rescuers, managed to arrive before the rest of the team, as they were attending another rescue at Willen Lake. After many hours of her patient efforts to secure the goose, it became obvious that this was not a one-person job, as the goose entered inaccessible areas of the river.
The rest of the team arrived and began their rescue mission strategically, knowing it would not be easy, as the youngster kept weaving through thick reeds, making it difficult to approach him.
What started as a solo rescue turned into a five-person mission, as three of our volunteers entered the river while the other two served as sentries, keeping a close eye on the bird and relaying what they saw to the other rescuers. The plan was working until the family of geese became startled and scattered, leaving the poor wounded goose behind. Our courageous rescuers, Tam and Stacey, who were waiting in the water, saw the opportunity and moved in to secure him.
Up close, the team could see the full extent of his injury; at least three inches of skin and feathers missing, exposing the goose’s underlying tissue. Thankfully, there was no sign of a fishing hook, but since the risk of fly strike was high in the warm weather, the team took the goose into care for treatment.
We are still unclear about how the gash came to be on the youngling, but MKSR’s efforts have resulted in a better future for him.
2. Against the Clock
One of August’s more challenging and almost tragic rescues began when an observant angler alerted the rescue team about a swan acting unusually at Willen Lake, a place home to many waterfowl. What he didn’t realise was that he was witnessing a swan on the verge of drowning.
Two of our experienced rescuers, Allie, and Stacey arrived at the scene and found the bird in visible distress. It was entangled in a length of braided fishing line, which much later they realised was associated with a bait bomb.
As the swan repeatedly dropped her head after many hours of fighting for her freedom, it was evident that the team had to act quickly.
Unfortunately for our rescuers, who were racing against the clock and had no immediate access to a boat, it was difficult to catch the injured swan stranded in the middle of the lake. With nothing but a tackle kit and waders, the two ladies waited for an opportunity to secure the majestic bird until another swan glided straight into the commotion.
As the newly panicked bird began to flap its wings relentlessly, trying to set itself free, it tugged at the original victim, and whether they would both make it to safety was beginning to feel increasingly distant for our rescue team. Fortunately, the second swan’s unpredictable manoeuvre or what seemed like divine intervention, presented Allie and Stacey, with the ability to catch both birds who reached the bank.
Most people think that once the birds are secure, the team’s work ends there, but this is far from reality. The rescue team assess and treats the birds at the scene to avoid the need to remove them from their natural habitat. Taking injured birds away can cause additional stress and separate them from their mate and/or flock, making eventual release more difficult. Our team assesses rescue cases on a case-by-case basis and makes a decision purely for the animal’s welfare.
Once the team reached the bank, a kind member of the public helped by throwing their tackle kits from the top of the slipway, which the team had left behind while they were focused on the mission.
As the ladies began their assessment of both swans, they successfully detangled and released the second swan, who left unscathed after only being caught in the fishing line for a short time. Sadly, when inspecting the first casualty, they noticed that the line had become tightly embedded around her tongue and glottis, which could not be safely removed at the lakeside. MKSR made the call to take the swan to Willow Veterinary Centre, where Richard, an expert veterinarian, detangled our swan and administered pain-relief medication.
After our team confirmed she was eating and drinking normally, they returned her to her home. To ensure her continued well-being, our volunteers will follow up with regular checks to monitor her recovery and ensure she continues to thrive in her natural environment.
Swans never forget who helped them during their time of need. After visiting Willen Lake to check in on her, she saw our two volunteers and gave them a heartwarming head bob as a thank you for saving her life. It’s these beautiful moments that keep us going.
3. Stoke Cob Strikes Again
A particularly adventurous cob reared his head again to MKSR this past week at Stoke Bruerne, albeit not for the right reasons.
As a team, we feel the cob of Stoke Bruerne gets a kick out of scaring the team into a stroke through his repeated shenanigans. But here at MKSR, we understand that each bird has its own personality, and we love experiencing them in all their glory.
The rescue team was called to the Grand Union Canal and noticed the large swan was once again trapped behind broken wooden fencing, a hazardous area he can’t get enough of, as this would be the third time he has been saved from this exact predicament. Our fellow wildlife charity, Animals in Need, has also come to his aid on several occasions, each time the cob getting smarter at outmanoeuvring everyone.
Despite being a small team on the day, every volunteer handled this incident carefully and strategically. The area was challenging to navigate. While Allie, our founder and expert rescuer, monitored the rescue on land, the rest of the team entered the water with waders. They gradually guided the determined cob towards a position where he could be safely secured.
While navigating through sludge, thick weeds and bramble, our dedicated rescuers’ efforts finally paid off as Stacey and Gemma secured him with our specialist rescue wrap – a piece of equipment designed to help us safely handle waterfowl during transport making it easier to carry him to the bank to be released back to his family. Given his track record, we know this isn’t goodbye.
4. Plucked from the Muck
Who knew MKSR’s Saturday evening would turn into an emotional frenzy when two passing men spotted five ducks stuck in a pond. The MKSR team were about to hang up their rescue boots and call it a day when a call came from a place near Little Brickhill.
After working many hours on multiple rescues throughout the week, team members Allie and Stacey followed up on this distressed call late in the evening, only to find a dangerous situation—five innocent ducks entombed in thick, hardening pond muck. The mud had dried on the ducks, making it difficult for them to move, as if turning them into stone.
At this time of year, as the weather gets hotter, vital water sources for wildlife, such as ponds and lakes, begin to dry up, and birds can get stuck in the sediment, leaving them unable to fly. This can cause dehydration and exhaustion as they try to escape.
Although the team were able to retrieve the first duck, Allie and Stacey quickly realised that trying to rescue the others was impossible. The further they ventured into the pond, the more it seemed to act like quicksand, and they could feel themselves sinking.
Acting quickly on their feet, a crucial skill our team excels in, they called the Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service. With their support, the team managed to grab the remaining four ducks and bring them out of the mud.
Sadly, one duck died before it reached our foster care, while three others were placed in the care of Tam and Angela, who spent the entire night patiently removing dried mud from the ducks and caring for them in this dire time.
Despite everyone’s best efforts, one had to be put down later due to kidney failure, a decision that was not taken lightly but made to reduce further suffering. The hardest part of wildlife rescue is accepting that no matter how dedicated our team is, it is not possible to save every animal.
However, two ducks have made a miraculous recovery and are now flapping their wings. Their little quacking sounds are a hopeful reflection of all the hard work our rescue team has put in.
We would especially like to thank the two men walking by and the Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service, without whom the ducks would not have stood a chance.
If you discover a wild animal trapped in dried mud, please do not put yourself at risk by attempting to enter the area. Contact MK Swan Rescue or your nearest wildlife rescue organisation for advice and assistance.
Follow our Work:
Every call brings a different challenge, and none of this is possible without our brave volunteers and the support of donors, veterinary practices, and members of the public who take the time to report animals in distress.
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