Tagged park cygnet found dead by pond
By Mary Dennehy
THIS cygnet, which was recently tagged in Tymon Park, was sadly found dead by council staff at the Limekiln-end of Tymon Park this week.
It is believed that the cygnet may have died from injuries sustained in a dog attack.
The cygnet in Tymon Par
However, according to the South Dublin County Council, the cause of death is not definite – and it could possibly have been a fox.
Bird Watch Ireland and the Irish Midland Ringing Group (IMRG) visited Tymon Park at the end of October to record and tag its resident swans, in an attempt to watch and support the local swan population.
The event, which was reported on in The Echo, saw one cygnet on the Tallaght-end of Tymon Park and four on the Limekiln-side tagged.
Two mature swans were also tagged.
However, this week one of the cygnet’s was found dead by the pond on the Limekiln-side of the park.
Members of voluntary, community-led group Friends of Tymon Park, which helped with the swan tagging a week earlier, are taking the opportunity to remind people to keep their dogs on leads while in the park.
Brian MacCormaic, Friends of Tymon Park, told The Echo that it is unlikely that a fox would attack a cygnet and not try to remove it from the scene.
“We are appealing to all dog-walkers in the park to keep their dogs on leads when near ponds or wildlife, however placid you think your pet is,” Brian said.
“If a swan flaps its wings to protect itself or its brood, a dog is likely to fight back to defend itself, with disastrous results for the swan or cygnet – and maybe for the dog too, if it’s a small breed.”
When contacted by The Echo, a spokesperson for South Dublin County Council confirmed that a cygnet was found dead near the lake at the Limekiln-end of the park on Tuesday.
According to Teresa Walsh, Director of Environment, Water and Climate Change “It is not definite but the cygnet appears to have been killed by either a dog or possibly a fox.
“Dogs should be under effective control of their owner at all times in the parks.
“There is signage to this effect at various points throughout the park including at the lake area.”
