Thread: White swan shot

These arnt native to NZ are they? Why are they excluded?

Originally Posted by Maca49

These arnt native to NZ are they? Why are they excluded?

I was wondering the same thing. I recall hearing that in Britain there is a rule they are only allowed to be shot by the royal family, or something like that.

Originally Posted by gadgetman

I was wondering the same thing. I recall hearing that in Britain there is a rule they are only allowed to be shot by the royal family, or something like that.

Throw back to old English origins and recognition of low numbers/slow breeding. They are somewhat unique. Different people will value them differently. I reckon they are pretty cool and dont mind adhering to the rules of our bird licences

Originally Posted by gadgetman

I was wondering the same thing. I recall hearing that in Britain there is a rule they are only allowed to be shot by the royal family, or something like that.

Close, but not quite right. Every swan actually belongs to the reigning Monarch. Every year, there is the annual "Swan Upping" ceremony, (quite different from the sheep upping exercise our Ozzie cousins accuse us of) which involves much ritual and pageantry, where all the swans are caught, uplifted, tagged and counted to ensure that HRS 's stock is increasing.

Originally Posted by Tussock

Pretty sure that is only the white swans of the Thames.

Yup, spot on, I should have been more specific as to which birds are being "upped". :>)

Originally Posted by Tussock

Pretty sure that is only the white swans of the Thames.

Actually, after further Googling "yes" and "no".......I thought so also, but the fact is:

"......Today, the Crown retains the right to ownership of all unmarked mute swans in open water, but The Queen only exercises her ownership on certain stretches of the Thames and its surrounding tributaries."

Ain't historical ceremonies great.

Originally Posted by Maca49

These arnt native to NZ are they? Why are they excluded?

I'm with Maca49.
Okay, I understand that they are protected etc and muppets shooting them are dealt the same as any other F&G regulation breakers, it still doesn't explain why?

As far as I see it.

They are introduced.
Are out competed by Black Swans
Are agressive (didn't one drown a toddler at Lake Pupuke in Auckland years ago?)
Are unlikely to ever be a sustainable game bird in NZ

Why bother keeping them in NZ, let alone protect them?
Is it because of some sentiment associated with Europe, i.e. property of the Monarch? Or because of classical ballet dances/kids fairy tales?

Originally Posted by dogmatix

I'm with Maca49.
Why bother keeping them in NZ, let alone protect them?
Is it because of some sentiment associated with Europe, i.e. property of the Monarch? Or because of classical ballet dances/kids fairy tales?

I'm being very lazy by not Googling this, but I'm fairly certain they're protected by the queen... for some reason.

Also did you know the swan is the only bird with a knob? well... that is... other than those ones that stand on K road in the morning