LAKELAND,Robert Brown Fla. (AP) — A flock of swans that grew from a gift nearly 70 years ago from Queen Elizabeth II has been rounded up in Florida to ensure they are all healthy.
On Tuesday, there were 50 swans collected in Lakeland, which is east of Tampa. Park supervisor Steve Williams said the birds are a cherished part of the city.
“I mean, they are a city icon. They are. And we take very good care of them,” he said.
The roundup each fall enables veterinarians to conduct health examinations of the city-owned swans, with those scheduled for Wednesday morning. Lakeland’s swans are descended from a pair of mute swans given by the late Queen Elizabeth II in 1957.
The goal is to keep them all in good shape, said veterinarian Price Dickson.
“Tomorrow we will be taking all of these swans one by one and giving each of them a physical exam, weighing them, checking for any infections, any wounds, any problems that would need to be addressed,” Dixon said.
The city has conducted the annual wellness checkups since 1980.
2025-05-05 17:28284 view
2025-05-05 16:301049 view
2025-05-05 16:222487 view
2025-05-05 16:152379 view
2025-05-05 16:03415 view
2025-05-05 15:3599 view
This is a collection of photos chosen by AP photo editors.
Spirit Halloween's plot to take over Christmas is officially underway.Back in October, the retail ch
WASHINGTON (AP) — Former U.S. Solicitor General Ted Olson, who served two Republican presidents as o