Swan Lifeline

22/08/2025

🦢We’re truly grateful to the Animal Defence Trust for their generous grant.

💚This support will allow us to continue our work to rescue, rehabilitate, and release swans, giving them the safety, care, and brighter future they deserve.

🌈Thank you for believing in us and in our mission.

You can find out more about the Animal Defence Trust here

🔗 https://www.animaldefencetrust.org

18/08/2025

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🦢We were recently alerted to a poorly swan in a busy town centre flock. On arrival, it was clear she was suffering from avian botulism — a condition that sadly affects many waterfowl at this time of year.

🤕Despite giving her fluids and supportive care, she was already too unwell and sadly didn’t make it.

❓What is botulism?
Botulism is caused by a toxin found in stagnant or warm water. In swans and other birds, it can lead to:

Weakness or inability to fly
Drooping head or neck
Loss of balance or trouble standing
Lethargy or unusual behaviour

💚What to do if you suspect botulism:
If you see a swan (or other waterfowl) acting strangely, weak, or struggling to hold its head up, please contact us or your local wildlife rescue straight away. Early treatment can save lives.

🌈While we’re heartbroken this swan didn’t make it, raising awareness can help others get the help they need in time.

14/08/2025

❤️Our lovely friends at Windsor Marina and Bray Marina are doing another fantastic pedalo challenge.

🦢See below for all the details and how to donate.

Just one week to go! 😱

The staff have been busy stretching those legs with extra laps around the marina. Any donations are greatly appreciated 🙏🏼

Marina Staff Pedalo for Swan Lifeline

On 19th–20th August, staff from Bray and Windsor Marinas will take on a unique challenge: pedaloing along the Thames from Bray Marina to Penton Hook Marina to raise money for Swan Lifeline, a charity that rescues and cares for injured and sick swans.

The 25-mile journey will take two days and aims to raise awareness and vital funds for the Eton-based charity, which helps hundreds of swans each year.

“We see swans every day and know how important Swan Lifeline’s work is,” said a team member. “This is our way of supporting them.”

https://gofund.me/c09751a5

09/08/2025

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🦢July has seen non-stop Cygnet for rescues for our team. Some little ones went straight back to mum & dad, others are getting extra TLC at our centre.

💚Want to help? We’ve made an Amazon Wishlist of supplies we’re running low on — every item makes a difference.

🔗 https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/14KN3VSZPSGH3?fbclid=PAQ0xDSwKbHdsBpiRQN-pbPrFiDw6fqWv08_1yJwzC4cpFl76sot4CLze---GyEhqB26IqUQ_aem_AcA1G3wNov3EZ_Rj0l6J6y5uR-VT58je32olIcncJWdVwoq8LoAE_Js7zrqiHerM2fg

🐣Thank you for helping us give these fluffy babes the best chance!

07/08/2025

🦢A huge thank you to our patron Alain Roux for raising this in July❤️

26/07/2025

We were recently alerted to this lovely swan family after their territory on a narrow river had almost completely dried up. With nowhere else to go, they were seen walking around the local village and spending most of their time in the village hall car park.

Concerned for their safety, we collected them up and brought them back to Swan Lifeline. They will stay with us until they can be returned home, or to a suitable alternative 🦢

21/07/2025

We are being kept very busy over here at the moment, with lots of cygnet rescues.

This little one had fallen down a weir, and with his family at the top of it and unable to get back up himself, we gave a helping hand.

He was safely retrieved and released straight back to his waiting family 😊

19/07/2025

We would like to say a huge thank you to Jean Sainsbury Animal Welfare Trust for a grant of £3000.

This amazing donation will help us pay for the large medical bills we received early on this year, due to a high number of catapult and fishing tackle related casualties.

Grants like this are vital to small charities, and we hope this one will help us continue our work to help the animals that need us 🦢🦆🪿

14/07/2025

Photos from three fishing tackle rescues that our rescue team attended last week.

Luckily, all of these swans were able to have the line/hooks removed, and returned straight back to their family/flock 🦢

08/07/2025

As we’re all enjoying this lovely weather, including our four legged friends, we’d like to take this opportunity to remind everyone the importance of keeping dogs under control around wildlife.

This young cygnet and his family were attacked by an off lead dog, whilst resting on the river bank. We were alerted by kind members of the public, so we headed over and brought the cygnet back for treatment. Unfortunately he sustained a serious head injury, and despite our best efforts, he sadly passed away after almost a week in our care.

Whilst enjoying our natural spaces and waterways, please always keep dogs under control around wildlife, and don’t let them enter the water where waterfowl is present. Please help us in keeping our precious wildlife safe.

🐕🦢🐥🦆

04/07/2025

A bumpy crash landing for this chap 🤕

A local resident called us after hearing the swan hit over head power lines and crashing on to the main road. She very kindly guided him to a nearby grass verge, where he waited for us to arrive.

Luckily, he was completely uninjured and was able to be released straight back to the nearby flock 🦢

02/07/2025

Lost/Deserted/Abandoned 🐣 At this time of year, this is one of the most common reasons for young waterfowl coming in to our care.

This young cygnet was spotted alone on a lake for a whole day. A lovely member of public picked him up off of the bank, as they knew he was vulnerable. The parents never returned to the lake, and being the only cygnet of the family, we can only assume that they flew off.

He is now doing really well with one of our cygnet groups here on site, and has just been moved to an outside pen where he will be looked after until release, later on this year 😊