Friends of a Feather

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Friends of a Feather is a volunteer based community of residents committed to the stewardship of swans and waterfowl, while also providing the resources and conditions necessary for them to thrive in Central Florida.

07/25/2026

đź”” disturbing image alert đź””

A fitting and horrifically sad ending to the captive swans at Lake Eola park, held captive by City of Orlando Families, Parks and Recreation & City of Orlando

While city officials were putting together their canned statement on the final stage of rehoming the entire flock of swans, this Australian swan family watched, as their only remaining egg hatched and was subsequently attacked by the 3 Trumpeter swans.

Why are Australians swans and Trumpeters sharing a space? Because the City of Orlando wanted to maintain five breeds of swans, purchase by tax payers, with no plan, no avian expertise and a zero avian partnerships, prior to purchasing these swans over the years.

What occurred was a flock of swans continually tormented, tortured, malnourished…left in unsafe and unsanitary conditions…why? Because City of Orlando leadership wanted to have these pretty ornamental props, fill a filthy lake, at the expense of their lives, to serve the egos of the city leadership.

We are so thankful that today was the last day they will ever be held captive at the hands of the City of Orlando.

Finally…they are free of the cruelty.

Rest in peace Australian cygnet and we are sorry Australian swan family, for what you had to endure for far too long 🙏

07/24/2026

đź””These swans were saved by the public, but remain captives held at Lake Eola Park by City of Orlando Families, Parks and Recreation đź””
But why does it take the public to save them??

City of Orlando Lake Eola Park Captively held swans, include Australian and Trumpeter swans…two breeds that would never be found together in any setting, as evident by how brutal the Trumpeters are towards these nesting Australians.

The same pair that nested earlier this year, who were removed to Bill Frederick Park with two newly hatched cygnets who died at 5 weeks old, due to the lack of appropriate care by City of Orlando Families, Parks and Recreation Orlando Families, Parks and Rec, by not providing the correct housing or nutrition, as evident by the necropsy results and public records of nutrition and substrate provided.

Getting attacked again, during their second nesting attempt and also forced to use trash and drug paraphernalia for their nesting materials, in all efforts to save the 1 egg remaining from the 3 laid.

These swans are captively held, wings clipped or pinioned, cannot leave and are left to suffer in Unsafe and Unsanitary conditions, a direct violation of FWC administrative code, 68A-6.009.
No one shall maintain captive animals in
(a) unsanitary
(b) unsafe
Conditions

Where is the accountability to the safety and wellness of these city owned pets??!!

The city announced their rehoming on May 8th, yet leave them in these unsafe and unsanitary conditions? Why?

We suggest calling the governors office at:
850-717-9337
And sharing your concerns of the negligent care by the City of Orlando

07/16/2026

đź”” Animal Cruelty alert đź”” City of Orlando Families, Parks and Recreation City of Orlando - Government Lake Eola Park, Orlando Florida.

This injury to this captively held Trumpeter swan (pinioned wings to keep captive) at Lake Eola Park, owned by the city of Orlando, was shared with Orlando Families Parks & Recreation department leaders Rodney Williams, Avery Boger, Jody Buyas and park manager Quincy Richardson on July 5th, who’s condition continued to deteriorate to the point of this video on July 12th - resulting in no use of his leg and in dirty and deplorable condition. After continuous demands for care from 7/5-7/12, he was finally taken to the vet, according to a member of the public on Monday July 13th. His mate, a female Whooper swan, suffered a tragic leg injury and the city made aware on 7/5, also no update to her condition provided who is no longer at the park.

Complaints have been filed with FWC - no response
Complaints have been filed with USDA - still awaiting FOIA response
Email and phone call follow-up attempts have been made and no response has been received.

Additionally, at the conclusion of this video is a pair of swans who were tormented by the fireworks on July 4th the city put on at the Lake Eola park, where they hold 30+ swans captive, with pinioned or clipped wings in admitted unsafe and unsanitary conditions, desperately trying to flee the park. The city failed to keep these swans safe and at great risk of death or significant injury.

We ask that anyone wanting to demand immediate action be taken, to contact these city leaders below and demand they stop this cruelty and rehome them immediately, as they stated they were going to do, on May 8th, after admitting they can’t meet the safety or sanitary conditions.
Contact state level agencies or elected officials demanding actions be taken.
Contact federal agencies demanding action

City leadership
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]

Families Parks and Rec leadership
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]

07/03/2026

Update - please read
***These are City of Orlando CAPTIVE swans. They are not migratory wildlife. The person filming had numerous people out to track down the park Ranger for help. This post just shows the deficiencies of the city of Orlando and their care of their captive pets, who remain in unsanitary and unsafe conditions.
The swan was taken to the substandard city pen, however, they have no veterinarian on staff and they won’t provide us any updates on the condition****

————————————————

“We love our swans” the city of Orlando statement said.

Yet the night before they plan on tormenting them with thousands upon thousands of people and detrimental fireworks…Whooper swan, Jill, is in severe pain and injured.

NO Ranger in sight and they won’t pick up the phone.
Must be due to failure to meet FWC regulation 68A-6.009

The person filming finally found a Ranger to bring this swan to their substandard pen. With no vet on staff, we will have to hope they get some care ASAP.

Please see comments below for our request of action

They have acknowledged they can’t care for them, but why are they dragging their feet rehoming them? So they can remain in unsafe conditions?

Reminder about FWC regulation:
68A-6.009 General Regulations Governing Possession of Captive Wildlife.
(1) No person shall maintain captive wildlife in a manner which results in any of the following:
(a) An unsanitary condition;
(b) An unsafe condition;
(c) A threat to public safety;
(d) Maltreatment, neglect, or injury of such wildlife;
(e) An injury to a person as specified in Rule 68A-6.018(6), F.A.C.;
(f) An escape of wildlife as specified in Rule 68A-6.018(7), F.A.C.

06/29/2026

With the City of Orlando acknowledging they are “working to rehome the swans” as they can’t meet the most basic FWC regulations, such as

68A-6.009 General Regulations Governing Possession of Captive Wildlife.
(1) No person shall maintain captive wildlife in a manner which results in any of the following:
(a) An unsanitary condition;
(b) An unsafe condition;
(c) A threat to public safety;
(d) Maltreatment, neglect, or injury of such wildlife;
(e) An injury to a person as specified in Rule 68A-6.018(6), F.A.C.;
(f) An escape of wildlife as specified in Rule 68A-6.018(7), F.A.C.

Now July 4th fireworks at the park.

Since the majority of these swans have wings clipped in Nov, they are now fully flighted and will be severely spooked & stressed by the fireworks & will likely attempt to escape the terror. Some will certainly take flight and put at risk of injury or death.

Did you know this occurred in a recent year, when one flew into the electrical line during fireworks and dropped dead in front of a park employee?

Additionally, since the city has dragged their feet in rehoming them, the Australian pair has nested again and currently sitting on eggs. What will they do for them during this time? What about after they hatch? Will they take them to Bill Frederick Park again, where they died at 5 weeks old in the city’s care. The necropsy stated poor nutrition and body condition, likely due to poor conditions and care. Cygnets don’t typically die at 5 weeks old, while on a separate captive environment, unless there are known poor conditions…which have been broadly noted and documented, providing the wrong food, the wrong pen environment conditions, etc.

They continue to fail these living and breathing animals, until they are no longer capable of life, due to their continued neglect and lack of responsible care.

UPDATE ON LAKE EOLA’S SWAN REHOMING & ONGOING CONCERNSAs we continue reviewing public records, city statements, direct o...
05/14/2026

UPDATE ON LAKE EOLA’S SWAN REHOMING & ONGOING CONCERNS

As we continue reviewing public records, city statements, direct observations & publicly shared videos, here is what we currently understand:

-The first phase of swan removal involving cygnets, eggs & parent swans began early Sat, May 9, according to video publicly shared by breeder Travis Williams. (Shortened video attached and please note, this is a city failure, NOT the breeder…he is trying to help)

-We understand the breeder discouraged removing eggs from active nests. However, the City reportedly insisted following the deaths of 3 newly hatched cygnets and 2 Australian cygnets previously under protective care. These losses further highlight longstanding concerns regarding infrastructure, safety & nutrition.

-Following removal of one nesting female & her nest, many observed her male mate remaining at Lake Eola for nearly two days crying out in distress. Despite repeated sightings & concern, the City was unable to reunite him with his mate. He has since reintegrated with the remaining flock. Based on available information, the City did not maintain adequate documentation identifying bonded pairs by leg tag, making reunification far more difficult.

-Reunification may now only occur once remaining mute swans are fully corralled & transported to the breeder where the female currently remains.

-As of today, no publicly communicated operational plan has been provided outlining timelines, handling procedures, reunification efforts, or long-term placement details.

Additional context:

Despite repeated public messaging citing avian influenza as the primary reason for these actions, public records & recent city discussions suggest broader concerns regarding swan welfare & long-term program feasibility.

The City acknowledged consultations with FWC, USDA, & the Department of Agriculture, stating compliance with captive wildlife regulations in an urban park environment would be difficult to maintain, particularly with future Lake Eola construction.

At the Apr 10 Families, Parks & Recreation presentation, the estimated cost to properly support swan care was approx $332,600 annually — despite historically having no formal city budget dedicated specifically to swan care

Rehoming swans - City of Orlando failure -We remain elated the city of orlando has admitted in their public statement, t...
05/11/2026

Rehoming swans - City of Orlando failure -

We remain elated the city of orlando has admitted in their public statement, their inability to meet the most basic needs of captive swans, per FWC guidelines and is ending the program.

However, we expected a transparent, thorough, humane and ethical rehoming process. What we are seeing within the first 48 hours is something quite different.

Here is a male swan, in disturbing distress, looking and calling for his female mate and their eggs.
He is sitting on an empty nest, calling for her. Calling for his life long mate. Stressed about the removal of their eggs.

His female mate, along with her 7 eggs she was actively incubating, were removed by the city of Orlando staff overnight and given to a breeder. Leaving her lifelong partner behind, to suffer…alone.

This was apparently the plan in place since at least April 14th according to public records obtained.

When we learned swans were going to a breeder, we orignally weren't thrilled. However, after speaking with him, it's clear that he didn’t have a part in separating this pair and it was a directive from the city, but he should have refused taking the female and eggs, regardless.
Please do not place blame on Williams Exotic Waterfowl.
Demand answers from the City of Orlando Families, Parks and Recreation

The and Families, Parks and Recreation continue to fail these animals.

We will be looking into statutes and laws they failed to abide by, but at the very least, this was unethical, inhumane and cruel.

Yesterday was a significant win.Although undoubtedly bittersweet, the City of Orlando announced that the Lake Eola swans...
05/09/2026

Yesterday was a significant win.

Although undoubtedly bittersweet, the City of Orlando announced that the Lake Eola swans are being re-homed to far better conditions after acknowledging their inability to meet their needs.

Regardless of how long “swans have been on Lake Eola”, we know the conditions have changed where the park now welcomes over 2M people a year & has become an event space, no longer a quiet or safe respite for these animals.

No matter how this decision is being framed publicly, what matters most is this: the swans will finally be safe.

For years, so many of us have witnessed suffering that should have never happened to creatures so beloved by our community. We spoke up when it was uncomfortable & pushed when it would have been easier to stay quiet. And yesterday, that advocacy mattered.

This victory is not political but built on compassion, persistence, and the belief that living beings deserve proper care, protection, and dignity.

To every volunteer, supporter, advocate, journalist, neighbor, donor, and person who signed our petition, shared a post, attended a meeting, shed tears, or simply cared… THANK YOU. You helped change the outcome for these birds.

The story of the swans at Lake Eola has always meant more than swans. It has been about stewardship, and what kind of city we choose to be.

The community spoke & yesterday was a significant step forward. And for the first time in a very long time, many of us exhaled knowing these beautiful animals may finally have the chance to live the safe lives they deserved all along

05/01/2026

Is Lake Eola Park safe for nesting swans?

Look at these ones and you decide.

Outraged? So are we!

Swans panting, open mouth gaping and drooling from all the stress from activity from an event drawing over 13,000 people to their area
Another forced to choose to be next to a very busy road
Another getting attacked by another pair of swans
Australian swans, the male getting attacked trying to protect his female, barely remaining alive afterwards

Swans use many filters to decide upon a nest site.
They will try to find a safe location, away from human interaction, away from excessive activity.
But these swans can’t leave if they wanted to, so what do they do?

Nature will force their bodies to try. So they do. They choose locations in a park that sees over 2m people a year. A place where they are constantly stressed and disturbed. A place where they can’t protect themselves from the surrounding stresses and disturbances.

Why? Because has chosen to force swans into a subpar location, for ornamental purposes. For the economic draw. Not because it’s the right environment…it’s not.

Is this fair to these animals to be brought here and forced to these conditions? Does this sound all too familiar to the outrage that existed from the recent Sloth World debacle? We think there are too many similarities.

04/30/2026

Please help us advocate for better care for the swans at Lake Eola Park in Orlando Florida.

Is Lake Eola Park safe for these precious animals?

We will let you decide if City of Orlando Families, Parks and Recreation is doing enough to care for them.

Today, this Trumpeter swan, Spade, protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, is clearly suffering greatly at Lake Eola Park and their forced confinement and subpar infrastructure.

These swans often get bumblefoot, from being forced to areas of hard surfaces, like the extensive concrete walkways they are forced to traverse daily, causing extremely painful sores, leading to life threatening infections.

They will state Spade is old. He is older, he’s 18. But by standards of swans in captivity in a safe environment, this is about half its typical lifespan.
At Lake Eola, the avg lifespan is just over 5 years old.
Why is that?
We know why, but the City of Orlando - Government would rather force these birds into unsafe environments for economic draw vs provide a safe and protected environment for them.

Please speak out to our city of orlando government and request they make better decisions regarding the care and support for these animals. They deserve better.

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Orlando, FL

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