!  Coalition's response to Ottawa Humane Society Royal Swan FAQ

The Ottawa Humane Society is aware of the recent public debate concerning the care of the City's Royal Swans. In order to answer some commonly posed questions, they have prepared the following fact sheet.

The Ottawa Humane Society's comments are in blue (as quoted from their fact sheet).
The Ottawa Royal Swan Coalition's response is underlined in red.

The Ottawa Royal Swan Coalition has prepared this response to the OHS FAQ document because it has received questions from members of the public concerned about the Royal Swans and the accuracy of the information in the OHS document.

People have asked about the OHS mandate and its expertise with respect to wildlife as well as the credentials of the individual from the OHS that inspected the Royal Swan facility? When this inspection was done and whether there have been follow-up inspections during the summer? And, whether there is a conflict of interest, given that the OHS depends on funding from the City of Ottawa for its Pound Services Grant, received through the same department that is responsible for the Royal Swans?

What exactly are the Royal Swans?

Swans are large water birds of the family Anatidae, which also includes geese and ducks. Swans are grouped with the closely related geese in the subfamily Anserinae. The Royal Swans are not native to North America, and so are required to be pinioned -- that is, made unable to fly under regulations administered by the Canadian Wildlife Service.

Among the Royal Swans, there are two species: the Mute Swan, Cygnus olor, is a common temperate Eurasian species, often semi-domesticated, descendant of domestic flocks are naturalized in the United States, and; the Black Swan, Cygnus atratus, a native of Australia.

There are no native swans found in this region.

Why are the swans being kept indoors?

In May of this year, just prior to the annual spring release, City of Ottawa staff, in consultation with an avian veterinarian, decided to keep domesticated swans separated from the wild birds on the Rideau River.

This decision was made following a notice from the Canadian Wildlife Service, pointing out to aviculturists the potential risk of outbreaks of strains of avian influenza (bird flu) between captive and wild stocks of birds. The guidelines were developed by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and specify the following, "Minimize contact among resident birds in your facility, free ranging wild birds and domestic poultry."

The OHS was provided with this information at the time the decision was made.

The above guideline is a commonsense, standard practice that has always applied while animals are WITHIN aviculture or wildlife rehabilitation facilities so it was disingenuous for City staff to have interpreted this guideline as meaning the animals should not be released from these facilities.

More important, the Public Health Agency of Canada provided a clarification to City staff on June 2nd that this guideline was not meant to apply to captive birds. Furthermore, the Press Secretary for the Minister of Health, responsible for this agency, sent an email reiterating that these guidelines “were not meant to apply to birds in captivity. Certainly not to the Royal Swans. There is no reason that the swans should be kept indoors this summer”.

This information was withheld by staff from Councillors. However, given the amount of public controversy throughout the summer and the fact that the OHS is attempting to present itself as “independent”, why did it simply take the word of City staff and not speak directly to sources such as the PHAC.

Is the H5N1 virus a threat to humans, the swans or other animals?

The H5N1 virus is a subtype of the influenza virus, and is capable of causing illness in many animal species, including humans. More than 190 human cases have been recognized-with about half of them fatal-in Asia, Africa, and Europe. In almost all cases, those infected with H5N1 had extensive physical contact with contaminated birds.

H5N1 is predominantly an avian disease, and there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission of the disease.

The H5N1 virus has yet to be seen in North America.

As far as other animals are concerned, there have been published cases of infected cats in Thailand. This raises the possibility of other carnivorous animals being infected. Residents of some European cities have been asked to keep their cats indoors to prevent transmission of the virus.

In mid-August, American scientists discovered possible bird flu in two wild swans on the shore of Lake Erie. Testing of those birds is still ongoing, but initial examinations indicate that the swans don't have the original version of H5N1, but rather a milder, mutated strain.

The Canadian government is in the midst of collecting data for its Wild Bird Survey for Avian Influenza. The 2006 survey will enable animal and public health authorities to better understand the presence and characteristics of typical strains of avian influenza in North America's wild bird population, and therefore assess and report on the seriousness of the threat to humans and animals.

It is important for organizations committed to animal welfare, that wildlife diseases not be used to create unwarranted fear. There is an increasing amount of public cynicism as demonstrated in Dr. Marc Siegel’s book ‘False Alarm: The Truth About the Epidemic of Fear’, “that government officials, the media, and the pharmaceutical industry exploit – and spread – fear for profit and power”.

Wild birds have, over many years, been affected by various strains of avian influenza. While many birds have died, most have not. The H5N1 strain has not been found in any migratory bird in North America but even once it is, it would be unwarranted as well as impossible to embark on a major cull of the millions of wild birds on our rivers.

From a human health perspective, the most important recent scientific discovery regarding the HPAI H5N1 virus involves the receptors for this virus. According to the study, [Nature (vol 440, p 435) and Science (DOI: 10.1126/science.1125548], the two receptors for this virus in humans are located deep in the lungs, making it relatively difficult for people to get the infection, and nearly impossible for people to transmit the virus to one another. While the possibility always exists that the virus may mutate and become more easily transmissible to humans, the possibility of this virus causing a human pandemic is currently low.

What could happen to the swans if avian influenza was found in the swans or other wild bird populations in the region?

Our experience with such other diseases, such as raccoon rabies, would suggest that authorities might undertake a cull, or mass extermination, of affected flocks.

We should take a lesson from the raccoon rabies experience. Over 10,000 raccoons and skunks were killed in eastern Ontario by the Ministry of Natural Resources during this unwarranted cull. It turned out that almost all of these animals or 99.8% were healthy.

If, in the very unlikely circumstance, the H5N1 strain is found in the exact location that one of the 12 Royal Swans happens to be, then it might possibly die or perhaps be culled, although this would probably be a much preferred fate over being held captive for the rest of its life.

Where are the swans being housed?

The swans are housed in their wintering facility in rural Ottawa.
 

What are the conditions at the facility like?

The OHS has visited the facility.

Overall, the facility is clearly in need of replacement or major retrofit. While the facility is unsightly, it does not, in our opinion, pose any significant health or safety risk to the swans.

Each pair of swans has its own enclosure, complete with private swimming areas and bedded resting areas. The facility currently provides approximately 150 square feet of space for each bonded pair of birds, including an outdoor area and a swimming area holding 210 gallons of water. Families, of which there is currently one, are provided an enclosure double that size.

The birds are able to move freely, and are able to spread their wings and engage in preening behaviour, which is a normal and frequent swan activity.

The outdoor areas have vegetation in them, including weeds, as would the natural conditions on the river. The birds have free access to the outdoor enclosure on a daily basis.

The OHS is satisfied that a strict cleaning and maintenance schedule is in place, in accordance with standard animal care protocols. The swans have access to natural light, and fresh air through an automatic air intake/exhaust fan system. They are examined regularly by a qualified veterinarian.

It is disturbing that the OHS does not address the humaneness of keeping the Royal Swans in pens that are significantly smaller than is recommended by swan experts for short-term rehabilitative care, let alone 18-months of forced confinement. The OHS indicates that these pens provide 150 square feet of space for each bonded pair. Is it not aware or why did it not seek out the information that recommends pens should be 20 x 30 feet in size or 600 square feet? Neither does the OHS comment on the size of the very small pools.

Why might the water in the facility be green?

The colour of the swimming pools is very likely a result of the swans' intake and output. The swimming area water would appear greenish partly because of the natural, plant-based waste produced by the swans and as a result of the greens (lettuce, spinach) that the birds are fed as a supplement to their grain-based feed. In order to eat, the vegetation is placed directly on the water, where the birds ingest it as they would in the wild.

The cleaning protocol calls for the water to be regularly drained and disinfected, but some colouration of the water is natural.

Who has access to the swans?

Due to the concern of disease and stress, City policy limits access to the swan facility to designated personnel and the consulting veterinarian.

It is hard to understand the military-type security employed by the City of Ottawa given that the Stratford Ontario swan facility is overlooked  by housing in the community. Its Swans are actually led to the river each spring by a marching pipe band with residents lining the streets to cheer them on.  The video of this event, which documents one whole year in the swans’ life, from their winter quarters to spring release and round up in the Fall does not show the swans exhibiting any stress.

It is believed that the secrecy has more to do with the rightful embarrassment the City should feel about the facility our swans are being kept in. Requests by various members of the media to inspect the facility have been consistently denied. When one sees the contradiction by City staff in statements that the “facility is the envy of others” (July 26)  to the admission a month later (August 23) that “an audit was conducted in 2003 and, as a result, staff is aware that it (the facility) requires upgrading and/or replacement”, one can understand the secrecy.

Are the swans under stress?

The OHS is aware of the existence of photographs that show the swans with elevated wings and feathers scattered on the ground. While these pictures might seem distressing, the birds can be very territorial, and it is normal that the birds would react when strangers come in close proximity. There have been many reports of Mute Swans attacking people who enter their territory. The familiar pose with neck curved back and wings half raised, known as busking, is a threat display.

This is the primary reason for the long-standing policy that access to the facility is limited to designated personnel to reduce any unnecessary stress on the birds.

The swans are essentially wild animals, though they are dependant on humans because they are pinioned. City policies attempt to ensure that they are not habituated to humans for their own safety.

Swans naturally moult in July and August, which accounts for the shed feathers.

It is understandable that the facility should not be open to the public. However, this should not extend to a request by a member of the media to inspect the facility. The video and experience of those involved with the Stratford Ontario swans does not support the exaggerated concern of City staff about swans in a flock habituating to humans based on one or two exposures or events.

In fact, based on the Stratford video, swans seem more intent in going about their business of mating, feeding, tending to their young and ignoring people unless they pose a direct threat when, naturally, they will defend themselves.

Why didn't other cities like Stratford and Halifax keep their swans inside too?

City officials report to us that, since these communities are much warmer than Ottawa, their facilities are much more open than those in this region, and the swans are never effectively isolated from wild bird populations. As a result, their swans wouldn't be protected by remaining in the winter facilities.

The statement that Halifax is much warmer in the winter than Ottawa shows that this person has not been to Halifax in the winter, with the significant storms that come up the eastern seaboard of the Atlantic, producing record levels of snow and blizzard conditions.

Even Stratford, where it is warmer, can experience bitter weather on occasion. The Stratford swans have free access to a winter building where they can seek shelter, a large outdoor compound and a large pool within that compound. They only seek the shelter of the building in the worst of the blizzards, preferring to be outdoors the rest of the time.

Aren't there actually many other threats to the swans on the river?

Yes. In the wild, there are a great many threats facing swans, including vandals, fishing-tackle injuries, predators, etc. These are difficult to control. Most of the threats do not affect human health or jeopardize the health of other animals, however.

The suggestion that the Royal Swans pose a risk to human health and/or the health of other animals is unproven and discreditable, particularly coming from an animal welfare organization.

What role does the OHS play?

The decision to keep the swans indoors this year was a decision made by the City of Ottawa. Our primary concern is that the swans are being treated humanely and that their habitat is clean, comfortable and safe. As a result of our own on-site visits to the facility, we are satisfied that this is the case.

We have expressed our concern to the City that sufficient planning occur for next year to ensure that the swans' best interest can be served. We hope that this will include a release on the river, and if this is not possible, that enhanced facilities can be created before the normal release date.

How could the OHS judge that the swans habitat was comfortable if it did not take the initiative to determine what the appropriate housing standards with respect to pen size were for large waterfowl such as swans?

The facilities must be improved immediately. In fact they should have been improved when the decision was made in May 2006 to keep the swans captive for what will be a year and a half. And, the OHS should have made that case when it was asked to give its endorsement this spring.

Does the OHS think the swans should be released now and does it think that the City made the right call to keep the swans in the wintering facility this year?

The OHS is not calling for the release of the swans this season. It is too late this year to make it worthwhile or prudent.

As to the original decision, the Ottawa Humane Society does not employ experts in either wild birds or avian flu, and is not in a position to judge the City's original actions.

All of us do, however, empathize with others who are called upon to make life and death choices about animals and their welfare and we believe that erring on the side of caution is preferable to recklessness.

Commonsense rules out releasing the swans this late in the season.

The OHS states that it “does not employ experts in either wild birds or avian flu, and is not in a position to judge the City’s original actions”. On what basis then did the OHS agree to inspect the facility? It could have easily verified the fact with the Public Health Agency of Canada that its guidelines had been misinterpreted by City staff and that staff had been sent a clarification in this respect. It could also have referred the City’s request for an endorsement of the facility to those that have experience in caring for swans.

The OHS states that “erring on the side of caution is preferable to recklessness”. Well, other than City staff, and against the opinion of the experts, the OHS stands alone in suggesting that releasing the swans last spring would have been reckless. Given its lack of qualification in this matter and its lack of initiative in obtaining proper information, it is the OHS that has been irresponsible.