FIREFIGHTERS were called out to rescued a swan that got stuck in a tree. – their second such rescue in a week.
The Scottish SPCA called on the Fire and Rescue service to help rescue the wild swan, which got tangled up in the branches of a 16ft tree in Haddington, East Lothian on Wednesday morning.
It is thought the bird had been trying to land and was blown off course by strong winds.
Earlier this week, a swan crashed about 30 miles away in Edinburgh when it flew into telephone wires.
Pictures released by the SPCA of the second incident show how it was rescued using a rope pulley system that pulled the branches down closer to the ground.
The swan had been spotted by a member of the public who alerted the SPCA, and is now receiving treatment at the Royal Dick Veterinary school in Edinburgh.
Animal Rescue Officer Fiona Thorburn said of yesterday’s rescue: “The swan was about 16ft up the tree and clearly in distress.
“It’s possible he had been up there overnight as it wasn’t until early on Wednesday morning he was discovered.
“The firefighters were able to get the bird to safety using a rope pulley system and I examined him. Thankfully, he had no obvious injuries other than being quite weak.
“It’s likely the swan was looking for somewhere to land and was blown off course due to the severe winds.
She added: “We would like to express our sincere thanks to the fire and rescue service who were absolutely brilliant throughout the operation.
“It’s very unlikely the swan would have been able to free himself had we not been able to help him “Hopefully we’ll soon be able to release him back into the wild where he belongs.”
“This is the second time this week firefighters have helped us to save a swan after another one became trapped on Monday. Luckily both swans are recovering well from their ordeals.”
On Monday night, in Edinburgh, firefighters used a short extension ladder and bird netting to bring down a swan which had become tangled in telephone wires on Hamilton Drive, in Edinburgh.
An SPCA rescue officer said at the time the animal may have become “confused” by wet weather and thought it was near a pond.
