When swans attack!

[Si]

Right, friday afternoon work discussion spilling onto interwebs.

Do you know anyone that's ever actually had a limb broken by a swan?!
Everyone I know has been fed this tale from a small age, about the evil vicious harbingers of menace, but no-one seems to have actually been set upon by one of these alleged winged terrorists.

A quick google suggests everyone knows someone whose uncle/brother/mother/shopkeeper has. Apparently.

One of my favourite sets of answers lies on here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/notesandqu...-24008,00.html
featuring such gems as

I actually saw two swans attack a man they set about him in a savage way before dragging him into the lake near by he was managed too escape but lost a leg during the fight

Quite, Nathan. That totally happened.

Also,

My friend went to the park with a bag of bread and a golf club and set about antagonising the swans. She had her arm broken and was so traumatised that she off work for months.

'Have you seen my golf club? Ah, got it - right, just off down the park to antagonise the swans'.

[Django67]

Lol, I have always been amused by this too. "A Swan can break a man's arm". Well maybe so, but why would they? And why the arm? And how come this has been handed down for generations? Maybe it's to stop the common folk from trying to eat the Queen's favourite meal.

[docwra]

Mythbusters tested it with a goose a few years back, they reckoned it would be very unlikely to ever happen.

[def]

My mate was an olympic runner until he was attacked by a swan. He would have gotten away but for taking an arrow to the knee.

Damn swans

[Mark]

Mythbusters tested it with a goose a few years back, they reckoned it would be very unlikely to ever happen.

Isnt a goose a fair bit smaller than a Swan?

[Si]

I guess it depends on the breed? As an aside - not all swans are property of the queen - common misconception Only certain breeds. But I don't know which ones. So I won't be shallow frying swan tonight. I'll have the butler cook it instead.

[PR200SX]

I did have a swan fly at me once, got a bit too close to the ickle baby swan, and the big swan didn't seem to like that much.

no contact made, but certainly looked very angry and dangerous

[Si]

Well I had a goat look at me funny once, but It doesn't mean that goats are capable of humanicide

[PR200SX]

my point was, they certainly have the anger, whether they can cause the actual bodily harm, I wouldn't be able to confirm that.

[Deacon]

Dont like swans. but they cant break an arm thats just silly.

[R3K1355]

It got a thin 3 foot neck for goodness sake, one swift kick and you'll snap the bastard.

[baker_001]

One of my friends was sick on a swan once. Not so much as a hiss. Although it did look a bit disgruntled.

[bren]

Cant stand swans, aggressive bullies. They used to chase my dog round the canal when he went in for a swim. Means I get the urge to throw bricks at them when I see them now. I dont but Id like to.

[Mark]

not all swans are property of the queen - common misconception Only certain breeds.

Mute Swans (the most common ones)

[Si]

Mute Swans (the most common ones)

Right, so which ones CAN I have en croute?

[cardiff scum]

Ive seen a few angry swans,but then again i do live in Swansea

Geese are the homicidal avians to avoid,hang around in gangs and act like chavs

[matthew]

Cant stand swans, aggressive bullies. They used to chase my dog round the canal when he went in for a swim. Means I get the urge to throw bricks at them when I see them now. I dont but Id like to.

Protecting their young? What bread is your dog? Chihuahua

[Asht_200]

Mute Swans (the most common ones)

And it isn't treason to kill a Swan..... Guess the answer is like this..... how many Polish folk do you see wandering around with broken arms? Cos they are catching and killing them for food all the time! Allegedly

[Mattie]

I've been bit on my arse by one but I can't really say it hurt... they were on the footpath on the canal and had to get past them but they had the babys with them that's why but I doubt from that, that they would do anything like break a bone

[bren]

A lurcher whippet cross. They might have bene protecting a nest but swans always seem to be bad tempered bullies. Miserable fookers!