42nd Annual Swan Roundup Now A Lakeland Community Tradition

LAKELAND, FL — For the 42nd year, the city of Lakeland aided by volunteer goose lovers gathered up the city's famous geese on Lake Morton for the annual Swan Roundup last week.

Every year since 1980, the Lakeland Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts Department recruits an army of volunteers to corral the geese that have multiplied to 50 swans with a slew of cygnets (baby swans) soon to be hatched.

After being chased and caught on shore or swept up in nets from rowboats, the swans are confined to holding pens and brought out in assembly-line fashion for wellness checkups by My Pet's Animal Hospital, led by Dr. Price Dickson, of 2225 Drane Field Road in Lakeland.

“The Lake Morton swans are a community icon and families have been interacting with the birds for decades," said Bob Donahay, director of parks, recreation & cultural arts."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.”

While swans are native to freshwater lakes, ponds and estuaries in the Northeast and Midwest, swans didn't begin populating Lakeland's 38 named lakes until snowbirds brought swans with them to their winter homes in Lakeland.

By 1926, Lakeland had a swan population of 20 and the city established a swan department to help oversee their care.

As the population grew, swans took up residence in the city's other 38 named lakes, including Beulah, Bonny, Hollingsworth, Hunter, Mirror and Wire lakes.

However, due to avian diseases, pesticides and predators such as alligators, Lakeland's swan population began to die out.

By 1954, Lakeland sang its final swan song.

The graceful water birds no longer floated across Lakeland's lakes until former Lakeland residents, Mr. and Mrs. Pickhardt, who were stationed at a U.S. Air Force base in England, heard about the death of the city's last swan and appealed to the queen, who also held the regal title of Seigneur of Swans.

The British royal family has tended to flocks of swans since the Middle Ages. The queen offered to donate a pair of mated swans from her royal flock.

Click here to read the complete story of Lakeland's swans: How Queen Elizabeth's Gift Turned Lakeland Into Swan City.

Now swans, including swan boats, swan sculptures, swan-themed businesses and swan artwork, along with the real deal, dominate the Lakeland, aka Swan City.

“People may not realize but the parks department actually has a line item in our budget for swan food and upkeep. It costs about $10,000 per year to feed and care for Lakeland’s domestic swans," said Donahay. "We really appreciate the team at My Pet’s Animal Hospital donating their time and equipment to help care for our flock. We could not do it without their generous support.”