36th Annual Lake Morton Swan Roundup Set for Tuesday

LAKELAND, FL — People aren’t the only creatures that need annual checkups. It seems swans, too, benefit from a yearly health exam.

To make sure its flock on Lake Morton remains healthy and continues to thrive, the City of Lakeland’s Park Division plans to conduct its 36th annual swan roundup Oct. 18 at 7 a.m. The swans rounded up on Tuesday will be placed in large holding pens to await their annual medical checkup on Oct. 19 at 7:30 a.m.

Dr. Patricia Mattson will oversee the annual health exams. Mattson donates her time as the city’s official swan veterinarian. Mattson has been a veterinarian for about 20 years and is the owner of Companion Animal Hospital.

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Last year, she reported a few concerns about the flock, especially in regard to their diet.

“The swans are consuming too much white bread and the heavy gluten diet with very little nutritional value is taking a toll on Lakeland’s swan population.” Mattson said in a city press release. “Many of the swans have a calcium deficiency because they feast on bleached white bread and this is just one of the items that will be reviewed during the swan’s annual health checkup.”

Lakeland’s iconic swan flock traces its roots to a 1957 donation to the city from England’s Queen Elizabeth. As the flock grew, the city decided it was critical to safeguard the health of the regal birds by performing an annual checkup. The annual Swan Roundup began in 1980 under the guidance of the city’s original “Swanvet,” W.G. Gardner.

“The Lake Morton swans are a community icon and families have been interacting with the birds for decades,” Bob Donahay, director of parks and recreation, said. “It is very important to us to make sure our Lakeland flock is doing well so we schedule the Swan Roundup each year with the primary purpose to check on the health of our birds.”

The flock is so important to the city, in fact, the annual budget for the parks department includes a line item for care and upkeep. It costs about $10,000 a year to maintain the flock.

Residents and visitors who want to see the roundup in action are invited to stop by the lake along Lake Morton Drive during the two-day event.

Photo from the City of Lakeland Parks & Recreation Division’s Facebook page