Norman the Psycho Swan

December 2001 - January 2002

This is an article from WaveLength Magazine, available in print in North America and globally on the web.
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by Tony Dales

Nearly normal Norman

"It's a bird. It's a plane. No-it's Norman (aka 'Psycho Swan'). Ladner Harbour in Delta, BC is, for the most part a quiet, pretty, peaceful location from which to set forth on paddling
explorations of the adjacent marshlands and islands of the Lower Fraser River estuary. Protected from most extreme weather and sea conditions, this area provides viable year-round paddling.

It's a great place to paddle... most of the time. But there was a bit of a 'situation' this past spring. Through several weeks in May and June kayakers in Ladner Harbour found themselves at the mercy of a feathered fiend- a winged wacko determined to create as much havoc on the water as possible.

'Norman' (as in Bates fame), is a large male mute swan, an absolutely gorgeous bird. This species exhibits at times some bizarre behaviour patterns. Not long ago in Vancouver a male mute was apprehended by wildlife officials after reports were received that the bird was killing cygnets in Stanley Park. Our swan's actions, while not quite as ominous, were at times close to heart-stopping.

Norman's modus operandus when encountered on the water rarely varied. As a kayaker passed quietly by he would seem to ignore them at first. The swan would have a kind of sleepy look that was, without a doubt, intended to lull the unsuspecting paddler into a false sense of security. As the kayaker moved away from Norman, the bird would wait just long enough to establish the desired range. Only then would his true intentions be revealed.

To really appreciate the following try to imagine yourself as the hapless kayaker. Your back is turned to the swan. Heck, you've already forgotten about the swan. But not for long.

First you hear shotgun-like bangs that are getting faster, louder and, oh my goodness, closer. As you turn around all you can see is spray, huge white wings pounding the water and a big black bill zeroing in on your forehead.

Nearly normal Norman  Photo Dave Butcher

There is nowhere to go and not a thing you can do. Just when you are sure you are going to die or at least be blinded, Norman abruptly lands with a splash at your side. He might even land partly on you. Then with a nod he moves away and that's that. After a few moments you realize that it would be best to start breathing again.

Norm never hurt anyone. We had one capsize. No big deal and after several weeks the behaviour suddenly stopped, much to the regret of the patrons at the local waterfront pub. This was the best show in the harbour-there were even rumors of wagering going on (Norman getting much better odds than the kayakers).

It was quite evident that the swan's behaviour coincided with the nesting period of his mate. The female was tucked away on a nest away from the paddling area. As soon as she returned to the water Norman reverted to his former serene self, gliding majestically around the harbour, seemingly unaware of and aloof to human activities.

What was it? Stress? Hormones? Simply protecting his mate? Some will insist it was a territory thing. Perhaps so, but Norman's 'turf' during these weeks expanded to cover the entire harbour and well into the estuary. All of our paddling during this period was routed well away from the nesting site. Paddlers took great pains to move quietly and in single file on the opposite side of the harbour. None of these strategies succeeded every time. Most of our paddling clients and all of the Paddling Club members received their 'baptism by feather'.


© Tony Dales runs Kaymaran Adventure Tours in Delta, BC, offering kayak and boat tours in the Fraser River estuary and delta. Operating out of Ladner Harbour, one of their most successful programs this past spring and summer has been the Ladner Paddling Club. Tony reports the community has responded in a very positive way to this initiative, despite the odd speed bump along the way... like Norman. Tony can be reached at 604-946-5070.