I am always amazed at the speed with which birds and insects can move. This is clearly an important ability, for both predator and prey. I put my chickens outside for their first time, in a temporary run. There was a substantial breeze and whenever a big gust went through, the chickens would attempt to fly. Their quick feet, combined with the nano-second of being air born, allowed them to move from one end of the enclosure to another in the blink of an eye.
Most of the swans that I used to care for either had their wings clipped, or they were pinioned; but whenever the wind revved up, they would do their best to take off into the sky. It was heartbreaking to watch. Occasionally, wild swans would fly in and they frequently had other visitors including egrets, herons, several species of ducks, and even eagles. I am sure that the captive swans I was in charge of were frustrated by their own inability to fly. It was my job to ensure that the Trumpeter swans’ wings were clipped each year after the molt. I was also expected to clip the wings of the juveniles before they learned how to fly. Timing was difficult. They first needed to be trapped, which involved my setting up traps both in water and on land. I then had to bait the trap every day until they were no longer afraid to go in it. When the moment was perfect, I would close the doors on the trap and proceed with my task. I worked for a non-profit and they were stretched for funds. They wanted me to keep my hours to a minimum which made it still more difficult to accomplish the wing clipping. Before I left my job (not by choice, but due to divorce) there were a few Trumpeters that I had not been able to trap. The breeding pair and their offspring had been adopted out to an estate about twenty miles away. They had been flying around the area and occasionally calls would come in to report that a Trumpeter had been seen at a neighboring pond. More recently, I have heard that the numbers of Trumpeter swans in northern Virginia are increasing. This leaves me feeling triumphant, knowing that I have helped to give at least a few of them back their freedom.
Some chicken owners clip the wings of their chickens to prevent them from flying out of their yards. I will not clip my chickens’ wings, as this places them in potential danger, making it more difficult to escape predators. Instead, I will place netting over the top of the run to ensure their safety. Freedom is not just for humans. Freedom is the inherent right of every sentient being.
