At the end of January last year, prompted by dramatic reports from Bolesławiec residents, the city hall’s environmental protection service launched a successful operation to rescue several dozen swans wandering around the nearby gravel pits, most of them frozen over.
The operation began with a telephone call to the director of Wrocław Zoo, Mr Gucwiński, who explained that swans wintering in Poland are, in fact, biological deviants—doomed to certain death without human help. He also provided detailed guidance on the swans’ “diet,” which should consist of grain and bread that is not too dry, since these birds, which normally feed on plant matter, have relatively delicate throats.
As meteorologists have forecast, and as is indeed the case, this year’s January is to be, and is, very, very frosty; therefore, we should start gathering kitchen scraps in advance to help our winged friends survive.
A longer walk to the gravel pits on the outskirts of the city, where the swans gather, is also a good way to get a solid dose of life-giving oxygen, as well as great fun for the children accompanying their parents or grandparents. At the same time, by helping these exceptionally beautiful representatives of the bird family, they learn respect for other living beings.