MY four year old daughter cried today when I told her that the mink had killed the three cygnets born only last week at the Boating Lake in Lydney.
We had watched the swan on her nest, fiercely protected by her mate, for weeks on end. Eventually three cygnets hatched to the delight of the many people who frequent this great amenity. The joy was shortlived and I can't help but wonder who is responsible for the well being of the many birds around the lake.
I suspect a certain amount of ineptitude regarding the maintenance of the Boating Lake. I have seen fishermen repairing the banks and have heard that they placed traps on the island to try and deter the mink, but these were removed because the Lydney Recreation Trust felt they were 'cruel'.
Perhaps the Trust is unaware of what a threat mink pose to the wildlife of Britain, that they are not indiginous to this country and have no predators here. Young birds are easy pickings and if what is happening at the Lydney lake is anything to go by the mink must be wreaking havoc on other birdlife in the area.
Over the course of this year we have watched in horror as young ducklings disappear, we have given up counting how many, but sometimes up to nine within 24 hours of appearing. And then the cygnets.
The parent swans now hang about dejectedly on the banks among the motley collection of geese, no goslings either and the fishermen deny claims of smashing the eggs. It paints a sad picture. One goose has two broken wings, damaged by the protective male swan while its mate nested. One of the Canada geese has a broken leg.
Surely an amenity like this, which is an attribute to Lydney, requires better attention and surely if such a place is going to stock birds then they should be managed in some way so that a healthy balance is struck to avoid such a pathetic and sorry state of affairs.–Name and address supplied.