Royal swans

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Wednesday, 26 May 2010 04:52

  Written by Jantine Van Kregten

Two of the Royal Swans in the Rideau RiverEarlier this week, City of Ottawa workers released Ottawa’s Royal Swans into the Rideau River. Royal swans?

Yes, the birds are descendents of 6 pairs of royal (mute) swans that Queen Elizabeth II donate

d to the city back in 1967 to mark Canada’s centennial year. (A few year later, a pair of black Australian swans was received from the Montréal Zoo and their descendents are also still in Ottawa.)

You can see the birds in the Rideau River, generally between Cummings Bridge (where Rideau Street turns into Montréal Road just east of downtown Ottawa) in the north to Carleton University in the south. Don’t get too close, though, as they’re in a semi-wild state.

The swans are removed from the river in October or November and they have a winter home provided by the city, where they are fed and cared for. So keep an eye out for our royal swans!