Black swan named “Mr Terminator” removed from town for terrorizing other birds

by

A black swan known as “Mr. Terminator” was taken from Stratford-Upon-Avon because it kept attacking the local mute swans, which the town is famous for.

For the past nine months, a black swan has been a popular sight on the River Avon, drawing attention from locals and visitors alike. Cyril Bennis, a volunteer swan warden in Stratford for 45 years, told *The Independent* that people were initially delighted by the swan’s arrival, describing it as majestic. It quickly became a sensation, with visitors traveling from all over to see it – Bennis even joked that it became more famous than William Shakespeare!

The initial amusement quickly turned to worry when Mr. Terminator started behaving aggressively towards the town’s sixty or so mute swans. Witnesses, including Bennis, reported the bird attempting to dominate a pair of swans with a baby, even trying to drown other birds during fights over territory. This raised concerns that the swans could be hurt or that Mr. Terminator might breed with the local, protected population.

Mr Terminator being evicted from Stratford-Upon-Avon

“Mr Terminator” evicted from Startford-Upon-Avon

Bennis faced a tough choice, feeling he’d be criticized no matter what he did. Ultimately, he decided the black swan, nicknamed ‘Mr. Terminator,’ needed to be released. It wasn’t easy to capture the bird – Bennis was still sore from the effort – but it’s now safely contained and will be moved to the Dawlish Waterfowl Centre in Devon.

Now that the black swan is gone, Bennis reports the river is peaceful again. He described the scene as calm, with the mute swans simply relaxing, comparing it to a tranquil moment from a Shakespeare play where everything is settling down.

As a wildlife enthusiast, I find black swans absolutely fascinating! They’re originally from Australia, and it’s such a treat to spot one because they don’t often venture over to places like the UK. Here, we’re much more used to seeing mute swans – they’re practically the symbol of Stratford-Upon-Avon, and you see them everywhere!

Read More

2025-10-06 18:48