I took the attached pictures of a Mute Swan in Alexandra Park as one of its legs was in a strange position. I suppose I'm asking for confirmation that this is indeed an abnormal position for the foot, and if so whether / where I could report it so it might be attended to.
I'm in full agreement with Steve, the leg position may seem strange to us, but it's perfectly natural to them. When on land, birds tend to "tuck" one leg under when they rest. Sometimes you may see waders "hopping" on one leg in a roost as they slightly alter their position without dropping the other leg. This saves energy as to heat up legs that are not covered with insolation (feathers).
Hence, When swimming on the water, waterfowl constantly have two legs in the water. So sometimes they will raise their other leg and wrap it across their back (ouch!) to conserve energy. And they will sometimes swim a little like this too! I suppose its their equivalent to us putting our feet up on a stool when sitting in our cosy armchair.
Hope this helps.
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Which bird is ideal for keeping cakes in? I asked. The answer: a Bun-tin.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/135715507@N06
I took the attached pictures of a Mute Swan in Alexandra Park as one of its legs was in a strange position. I suppose I'm asking for confirmation that this is indeed an abnormal position for the foot, and if so whether / where I could report it so it might be attended to.
