As the City of Orlando continues responding to the avian flu outbreak at Lake Eola Park, longtime swan docents and volunteers have launched a petition calling for changes to how the park’s swans are cared for and monitored.
The petition follows the City’s confirmation that 19 swans have died, part of 21 total bird deaths, after testing showed avian influenza as the cause. That confirmation came after earlier statements from City officials suggested the situation was “not as bad as once thought,” a framing that frustrated some volunteers who work closely with the swans and raised concerns early.
In the petition, organizers argue that Lake Eola lacks consistent, on-site expert oversight dedicated specifically to swan health. While volunteers play a major role in daily care, they say there is no standing avian specialist regularly monitoring the birds or establishing clear protocols for illness or injury involving City-owned animals…