The Complete Swan Decoy Guide

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Geese and ducks can be a huge problem for anyone who owns a pond, pool, or even lawn. A swan decoy can help to keep these pests away so you don’t have to deal with them and the mess they leave behind. Here is everything you’ll need to know about swan decoys and how to use them effectively.

Meet The Mute Swan

Almost all swan decoys for pest control are specifically made to look like the mute swan. One of the reasons for this is that despite its elegant appearance the mute swan is considered to be the most aggressive species of waterfowl in the world and other birds know it.

Male mute swans are especially protective of their feeding area, mate, nest, and offspring. They will not hesitate to hiss, chase, or even attack a threat that gets too close. It doesn’t matter if that is another type of waterfowl, predator, human, or even something as large as a boat.

This species is actually one of the largest of all waterfowl and one of the heaviest flying birds in the world so when it attacks it can be very intimidating but also dangerous for other birds. Ducks and geese can be seriously injured and are sometimes killed. (In the UK and Australia where the black swan, a slightly less aggressive relative of the mute swan, is more common, a black swan decoy is often used as a waterfowl deterrent instead.)

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Swan Decoy Basics

Swan decoys are typically hand-painted (with all-weather paint) to have the same easily identifiable markings as real mute swans. They will have all-white bodies and distinct orange beaks with a black outline. These markings along with their large size make them very realistic but also easily recognizable by waterfowl so that they instantly know to stay away.

Because they can look so real it’s not uncommon for decoy owners to have people stopping to admire them thinking they are actual swans. Decoys are designed to float but can also be used on land. And they are manufactured from tough yet lightweight resin plastic so that they can be left in the water and outside without an issue.

Common Waterfowl Problems

There is a range of problems that ducks and particularly Canadian geese cause home and business owners. Not only are they loud but they also trample plants, eat expensive grass, and create a disgusting mess when they go to the bathroom all over the place. They don’t just make a mess on lawns but also in the water of pools, ponds, and anywhere surrounding them like decks and patios.

This requires a lot of cleaning especially when a large flock decides to land on your property. This is particularly true with Canadian geese as each individual bird will produce several pounds of waste per day. Their poop can cause harmful algae blooms in the water and can contain microscopic parasites such as cryptosporidium which is potentially hazardous and even deadly to humans.

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What To Expect When Using A Swan Decoy

Because ducks and geese are naturally afraid of mute swans, decoys can effectively be used on land or in the water to keep them away. Typically as they fly overhead and see a large white swan decoy below they will instinctively decide to find somewhere else to land.

Fortunately not only can swan decoys get rid of geese and ducks when used properly but they are also known to work for herons too.  This can be a huge help for pond owners since herons love to eat fish and can quickly devour large numbers of them. Decoys are even known to keep pesky seagulls away as well. However, unlike predator decoys, swans won’t scare away backyard animals that you do want to stick around such as songbirds.

Using a swan decoy also has the added benefits of being: totally humane, environmentally safe, and inexpensive when compared to hiring a pest control service. And once they are set up they will work around the clock each and every day.

Where And How To Use Swan Decoys

You’ll need to keep in mind that decoys and deterrents of all types are never guaranteed to work 100% of the time. However, if you follow the info and tips here you will be increasing your odds of success dramatically.

In The Water

Decoys are hollow which allows them to float. Therefore they can be used right in your pond, pool, or hot tub. You can also use floating swan decoys for geese and ducks in lakes, rivers, and canals as well. Placing a decoy in the water helps to give it the appearance that it is swimming since it will be moved around by the current and wind.

When using a swan decoy for pool or pond protection they will also be moved around by any pumps and fountains as well. To make sure that decoys don’t get hung up in one spot, corner, or float away in larger bodies of water they typically come with one or more attached eyelets so they can be anchored down.

Most people attach a cable, fishing line, or rope to the eyelet on the swan and then to something heavy to anchor it on the other end. You may want to purchase decoy weights to use as an anchor. But items like bricks or fishing sinkers can be used too.

You’ll want to remember of course that while they are tough enough to handle all weather conditions plastic swan decoys can crack if they are left in the water when it begins to freeze. So you will want to make sure to store them properly during the winter months.

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On Land

While they can float, you can also use swan decoys for ducks and geese just as successfully on land. When setting up a decoy on land you may want to place it in a highly visible spot on your lawn or field so it can easily be seen from above. If you have a water source on your property you may also want to place the decoy near the water’s edge.  This will help to work as a deterrent for waterfowl exiting the water.

Placing it directly on the path the ducks and geese use to walk from the water to your lawn can also work too. And don’t overlook putting one on a dock or swim raft either. Some models will include anchoring stakes to help keep a decoy securely in position when it’s used outside of the water which can be very helpful.

The most important thing you will need to remember is that unlike a floating swan decoy which will move with the water when a decoy is used on land it will move at all. Therefore in order to keep waterfowl from figuring out that it is not real, you will need to change its location every few days.

Top Tips For Success

Here are some extra tips that you’ll want to keep in mind as well:

A Helpful Feature For Realism

When deciding which decoy to purchase, it can be very helpful to choose a model that has both an adjustable head and neck. This feature gives you the ability to position and pose your decoy so that it looks as realistic as possible. It also allows you to change things up every once in a while so that geese and ducks don’t figure out that they are looking at a fake swan.

A Pair Of Swans For Maximum Effectiveness

Individual swans can be highly efficient. However in general the most effective option is to use two swans together. For this reason, many manufacturers sell them in sets of two. By using two decoys you are making it look like you have a mating pair of swans on your property.

And waterfowl naturally know that when they see a pair of mute swans the male will be guaranteed to be much more aggressive than any lone swan. With two swans you also have the advantage of being able to use them in more than one location at the same time such as one in the water and one on land.

Predators Can Be A Big Help

When you have a large area of land or water that you’d like to keep waterfowl-free adding decoys of predators in addition to your swans is another way to increase the odds of success. A coyote decoy or fox decoy can be used on the ground while swans are placed in the water. These are natural predators of waterfowl and therefore scare them. They will also help to keep a range of other pests away as well.

For bigger ponds, pools, and lakes a floating alligator decoy is often used with swans. These also move with the current of the water so they appear to be swimming just like a living and hungry gator. An alligator decoy will also help to deter herons and raccoons too.

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Other Decoy Uses

Decoration

Because the mute swan is considered to be one of the most elegant of all birds decoys are often used in pools and ponds as decorations. Swans are actually a symbol of love and faithfulness since a mated pair will stay together as a couple for their entire lives. For these reasons, they are often placed in ponds and pools for weddings.

Inside the home wooden decoys are popular to use as decoration. Unlike the plastic type, these are made strictly for beauty and are not meant to be used outside. They will often be hand-carved and hand-painted. Many options also have an antique finish to make it seem as if they are much older than they really are. A wooden swan decoy is ideally used as décor in country-style homes.

Hunting

Different than those used for pest control, swan hunting decoys are made to look like species such as trumpeter and tundra swans. That’s because these are game species while the mute swan is not. The decoys are used to attract swans so the hunters can get a shot at them. Hunters also use swan decoys for duck hunting too.

Because these swan species are not aggressive to ducks, hunters add a few of them to their duck decoy setup to work as “confidence decoys.”  They help to give the setup that extra bit of realistic detail which will hopefully trick nervous ducks into being confident enough to land nearby. As an added bonus the large size of the swan decoys also helps the ducks to easily see the setup even when flying high above.

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There are a few popular brands that make them such as Carry Lite swan decoys and Tanglefree swan decoys for example. Trumpeter and tundra swans both look very similar to mute swans with the main difference being that they have black instead of orange beaks. So many hunters will actually buy decoys used for pest control and transform them into trumpeter or tundra swan decoys by simply painting the beaks black.

From waterfowl control to decoration or hunting a swan decoy can be used to accomplish several goals. And with this guide, you now know everything you’ll need to get started and be successful with them!

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