Kicker: Swan wranglers

SOUND: [Boat on water, crates being shut]

MYRNA BROWN, HOST: Seventy years ago, Queen Elizabeth II gifted a pair of swans to the city of Lakeland, Florida. Today, their descendants number fifty beautiful birds.

Lakeland Park Supervisor Steve Williams:

STEVE WILLIAMS: The city, I mean they are a city icon. We take very good care of them.

Yes, they do! This week city workers gathered up the birds for their annual check-ups. Veterinarian Price Dickson:

PRICE DICKSON: Weighing them, checking for any infections, any wounds, any problems that need to be addressed.

The city budgets $10,000 a year to care for the swans and a local veterinarian donates her services. Williams says its worth all the trouble:

WILLIAMS: Oh, I have a blast. I hurt the next day, but I have a blast.

MARY REICHARD, HOST: I understand that, but the swans are back on swan lake.

BROWN: It’s The World and Everything in It.

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