Steve Platt, of the City of Lakeland's Parks and Recreation Dept., reaches out to catch a swan during the city of Lakeland's 45th annual swan roundup on Lake Morton Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025, in Lakeland, Fla. The Lake Morton swan population dates back to 1957, when Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom gifted a pair of swans to the city. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
City of Lakeland Parks and Recreation workers Randall Pyle, left, and Dustin Collins catch a swan during the city of Lakeland's 45th annual swan roundup on Lake Morton Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025, in Lakeland, Fla. The Lake Morton swan population dates back to 1957, when Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom gifted a pair of swans to the city. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Residents look at swans in a cage during the city of Lakeland's 45th annual swan roundup on Lake Morton Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025, in Lakeland, Fla. The Lake Morton swan population dates back to 1957, when Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom gifted a pair of swans to the city. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Swans are kept in a cage during the city of Lakeland's 45th annual swan roundup on Lake Morton Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025, in Lakeland, Fla. The Lake Morton swan population dates back to 1957, when Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom gifted a pair of swans to the city. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Bryan Soroka, of the City of Lakeland's Parks and Recreation Dept., moves swans to a pen during the city of Lakeland's 45th annual swan roundup on Lake Morton Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025, in Lakeland, Fla. The Lake Morton swan population dates back to 1957, when Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom gifted a pair of swans to the city. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Audio By Carbonatix
10:42 AM on Tuesday, October 28
The Associated Press
LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) — Dozens of swans descended from a pair gifted to the central Florida city of Lakeland by Britain's Queen Elizabeth II in the 1950s were rounded up Tuesday for their annual health checkup.
The 54 swans were scooped up in a net by a parks and recreation staffer in a boat on Lakeland's Lake Morton. They were placed in temporary pens and taken to an animal hospital to prepare for their examinations.
At the animal hospital on Wednesday, they will be weighed and checked for any infirmities, and baby swans will be microchipped.
The swan roundup is a signature event in Lakeland, a city of around 125,000 residents located between Tampa and Orlando.
Elizabeth sent the pair of swans as gifts to the city of Lakeland in 1957 after the Florida city's swan population was depleted by disease and predators. The queen became aware of the swan situation from two former Lakeland residents living abroad and offered the pair from the royal flock living on the Thames River outside London.
The swan became the symbol of Lakeland and is found on its logo. The swan roundup started in 1980, as the lake's swan population multiplied.
Radio Night LIVE: a throwback to the origins of great talk radio. Important >>Radio Night LIVE: a throwback to the origins of great talk radio. Important guests, the top stories, and more than it’s share of fun and inspiration. Top rated talk host Kevin McCullough brings a sense of respect to the legacy of the genre, while . . . . <<
Larry Elder personifies the phrase “We’ve Got a Country to Save” The “Sage from >>Larry Elder personifies the phrase “We’ve Got a Country to Save” The “Sage from South Central” is back on the radio and TV! <<
Hugh Hewitt is one of the nation’s leading bloggers and a genuine media >>Hugh Hewitt is one of the nation’s leading bloggers and a genuine media revolutionary. He brings that expertise, his wit and what The New Yorker magazine calls his “amiable but relentless manner” to his nationally syndicated show . . . . <<
Eric Metaxas is the host of Salem’s newest daily talk program, a true >>Eric Metaxas is the host of Salem’s newest daily talk program, a true cross-over to the News Talk arena that inspires listeners. Eric Metaxas is a #1 New York Times bestselling author known for mobilizing people to ask bigger questions and . . . . . <<
Salem Media, our partners, and affiliates use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your browsing experience, analyze site traffic, personalize site content, and deliver relevant video recommendations. By using this website and continuing to navigate, you consent to our use of such technologies and the sharing of video viewing activity with third-party partners in accordance with the Video Privacy Protection Act and other privacy laws.Privacy Policy
