Whooper the helicopter-loving swan has his wings clipped

A swan in Jersey has had its wings clipped for a second time after falling in love with a helicopter. Whooper, who lives at a Les Mielles Country Club close to the island's airport, lost his partner two years ago. Last year he took a shine to a helicopter and flew towards its whirring blades each time it came into land at Jersey airport.


Photo from SWNS.

Les Mielles staff are desperately searching for a female swan to curb his dangerous obsession. In 2012 Whooper took a liking to an incoming EC155 Eurocopter and became completely besotted with the machine. He would chase it down the runway without fear of rejection or close encounters with the chopper's rotor blades. Fearing a bird strike, the airport fire service ordered Whooper's owners to clip his wings.

But when his feathers grew back, the potentially fatal attraction grew stronger, and Whooper had to be clipped again. Staff at Les Mielles Country Club are now searching for a female swan to keep their amorous bachelor company. Danielle Le Brun, from the club, said: "He has taken a liking to the helicopter. He would chase it and try to get as close to it as possible which is not safe for him or the helicopter.


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"I would love to find him a partner as it would help him out and stop him flying around the area. I have never seen anything like this with other swans, it is just him." She said Whooper was very happy, despite his pining for a helicopter, but as swans tend to mate for life finding him a partner would help keep him safe.