Swan captures pupils' hearts by staring at her reflection in school windows to mourn dead partner
- 3 months ago
A sad swan has been crossing a road every day to stare at its own reflection in the windows of a school following the death of its mate.
The solitary swan, called Sally, is thought to be in mourning following the tragic death of her partner Harry in 2022.
Her poignant daily ritual has captured the hearts of pupils at Telford Park School in Stirchley, Shrops.
She is a regular visitor and is often spotted waddling across the zebra crossing on Grange Avenue to reach the school.
Sally then gazes at her reflection of the classroom windows.
Residents living nearby said Sally and Harry used to be seen in Mad Brooke pool across from the school.
One said: "Sally goes to the school every day. She and Harry were very close but when he died she went into mourning.
“It’s gut-wrenching to think of her torment but obviously looking at her reflection is giving her some comfort while she grieves for Harry.
“Sally’s a well known face around here and everyone at the school loves her.”
School leaders said they had made efforts to have the swan collected by a sanctuary but without luck.
A spokesperson said: "It has been coming for about a year now.
"It is a female and we have spoken to the RSPB and Wildlife Trust but they said there is not much they can do to help.
“They have told us not to approach her and not to feed her.
“It is heartbreaking. She comes every day and spends all day staring at herself at the reflective band along the bottom of the school building.
"She does go back to the pond every night but each morning she comes back.”
Experts said birds often displayed “grieving” behaviour when they suffered a loss.
An RSPB spokesperson said: “Swans do form monogamous pairs and generally remain together for life.
“Should one die, ‘grieving' behaviour is often observed so this is normal and to be expected.
"The pen may eventually leave and join other swans, eventually pairing up with a new male, but she may also end up living alone forever too.
“Our advice is always to keep a distance from wild birds, avoid direct contact and not to feed waterfowl due to the current avian flu outbreak.”
The solitary swan, called Sally, is thought to be in mourning following the tragic death of her partner Harry in 2022.
Her poignant daily ritual has captured the hearts of pupils at Telford Park School in Stirchley, Shrops.
She is a regular visitor and is often spotted waddling across the zebra crossing on Grange Avenue to reach the school.
Sally then gazes at her reflection of the classroom windows.
Residents living nearby said Sally and Harry used to be seen in Mad Brooke pool across from the school.
One said: "Sally goes to the school every day. She and Harry were very close but when he died she went into mourning.
“It’s gut-wrenching to think of her torment but obviously looking at her reflection is giving her some comfort while she grieves for Harry.
“Sally’s a well known face around here and everyone at the school loves her.”
School leaders said they had made efforts to have the swan collected by a sanctuary but without luck.
A spokesperson said: "It has been coming for about a year now.
"It is a female and we have spoken to the RSPB and Wildlife Trust but they said there is not much they can do to help.
“They have told us not to approach her and not to feed her.
“It is heartbreaking. She comes every day and spends all day staring at herself at the reflective band along the bottom of the school building.
"She does go back to the pond every night but each morning she comes back.”
Experts said birds often displayed “grieving” behaviour when they suffered a loss.
An RSPB spokesperson said: “Swans do form monogamous pairs and generally remain together for life.
“Should one die, ‘grieving' behaviour is often observed so this is normal and to be expected.
"The pen may eventually leave and join other swans, eventually pairing up with a new male, but she may also end up living alone forever too.
“Our advice is always to keep a distance from wild birds, avoid direct contact and not to feed waterfowl due to the current avian flu outbreak.”