Questions and answers regarding swans at Colgate

Why won’t we have mute swans in Taylor Lake anymore?

• In March 2015 the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation released a new draft management plan for mute swans, the variety that have been living in Taylor Lake.
• Mute swans are a non-native species, brought to North America from Eurasia for ornamental purposes in the late 1800s.
• Colgate has been leasing Adam and Eve from a private swan owner. In light of these new regulations, he has sold his stock to swan owners in Ohio, so Colgate will not have access to Adam and Eve.
• We do not wish to purchase our own swans or lease a new pair, because the DEC regulations would heavily and negatively impact their quality of life.
• Mute swans need up to eight pounds of vegetation each day. They often pull up more vegetation than they can consume, and this compromises water quality. The birds also tend to be aggressive toward native species.
• These facts have led the DEC to act statewide. But Colgate’s decision comes out of concern for all wildlife on campus and the determination to make sure that Adam and Eve are able to live long, happy lives in a comfortable, safe environment.
• We believe that, while we are sad to see a Taylor Lake without Adam and Eve, we must remember that our beloved swans are, in reality, not pets or inanimate objects, but wild birds with rights of their own — namely, to live in an environment that won’t require them to be sterilized, pinioned, and enclosed.

What would Colgate have to do if they made arrangements to get swans from other swan owners, or purchase their own?

• DEC policies would require Colgate to:
  • render the birds unable to fly and erect enclosures around Taylor Lake because both would be required to prevent them from flying or floating into the wild;
  • prevent the swans from reproducing by having a licensed veterinarian surgically sterilize the birds;
  • mark the swans with a permanent leg band, collar, or wing-tag.
• We are sad to see this long-standing tradition come to an end, but believe it is in the best interest of the birds that we all love so deeply.

What is the history of the swans at Colgate?

• Swans have lived on Taylor Lake since 1929. See this page from the spring 2011 issue of the Scene.

Why doesn’t Colgate switch species and seek to bring, for example, trumpeter or tundra swans to our lake?

• Trumpeter Swans: Trumpeters are held in captivity in some places, although we’re not familiar with any in New York. They are much more difficult to contain due to their wildness and high desire for local movements (i.e., they would not stay confined to Taylor Lake because it is small and not the right habitat). They would need to be fed and cared for in the winter, just as the mute swans were, but we are not aware of any trumpeter swan handlers in New York that provide this service. Trumpeters are native to the United States but have only been in New York for approximately 20 years. Because they are native birds and migratory in some parts of their range, they are protected under Federal Migratory Bird Act which comes with many stipulations regarding where they can be kept, they type of habitat they are kept in, and how they are treated.  Basically, they need suitable habitat and cannot be “harassed.” Given all of these facts, we don’t believe having trumpeter swans is suitable alternative.
• Tundra Swans: Tundra swans breed up north in the Arctic, and are highly migratory. Their life history is quite different than mute swans. When not breeding, they stay in large flocks, and when breeding they are found on open land, not in water. Tundra swans have not been domesticated and are not an option at Colgate.

How and where can we share our photos and memories of Adam and Eve?

• We encourage everyone to share memories and photos of Adam and Eve online (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.) by using the hashtag #colgateswans.