NYC bandits kidnap swan in bird-brained scheme, but mystery remains over its fate

Four people were caught on video awkwardly bird-napping a massive swan in Queens — as activists fear the missing bird may have met its end as an animal sacrifice or because of a a senior prank.

The four — including one minor — were busted after snatching the mute female swan Saturday at Frank M. Charles Memorial Park in Howard Beach, according to US Park Police.

Authorities didn’t immediately release the names of the alleged bird-brained bandits, but local officials and activists speculate the bird could have met an unsavory fate as some of the birds have ended up on lunch plates in years past.

“There have been numerous animal sacrifices [in the area], it’s been an ongoing problem,” Edita Birnkrant, executive director of animal advocacy group NYCLASS, said of the various bloody rites carried out at parkland near Jamaica Bay. “It’s possible that could have been the intent.”

The captured swan also recently had babies, Birnkrant said, and her lifelong mate has been “calling out in distress” – making the sick snatching even more fowl.

Local councilwoman Joann Ariola previously told The Post the chicken, pig and rat sacrifices reached a “high point” last year, but noted in a Tuesday interview that the gruesome practices have dwindled in 2025 after increased police patrols and increased awareness.

Birnkrant said last weekend’s incident brings to mind a 2023 case in which three upstate New York teens were arrested in connection with killing and eating a beloved town swan and stealing four cygnets.

“In the past, [swans have] been taken by unhoused people to eat in NYC,” said John Di Leonardo, executive director of Humane Long Island, although he added, “that doesn’t appear to be the case here.”

Unlike pigeons, “there’s no market for swans locally, so it’s unlikely [it’s] wildlife trafficking,” he said. Instead, he hypothesized the incident is the result of a “cruel senior prank” since it’s the last week of public school in Howard Beach.

“They’re laughing in the video,” noted Brina Ciaramella, a Howard Beach resident, local attorney and area wildlife rehabilitator. “I don’t know if it was just mischievous kids with no heart that would do something cruel, or if there was a different intent.”

Ciaramella fears the bird is now dead, with the animals known to get aggressive and be very messy when in captivity.

Federal charges are pending against the four, officials said.

Ariola credited the quick arrests to videos of the bird-nabbing incident posted online by local resident Stephanie Santiago – which captured the culprits violently stuffing the bird into a car with Vermont plates. Local Frank Kelly recognized the vehicle while at work at Forest Park on Sunday and called the authorities.

Kelly is poised to receive a $3,000 reward for the information leading to the four arrests, and plans to take his daughter to Disney World with the earnings, she said.

Ciaramella pitched more security, signage and even tags on swans to prevent a similar incidents at the federally-owned land in the future, adding that cameras would also help deter further chickens, pigs and rat sacrifices, as well as nighttime tortoise shell poachers that lurk in the region.

Birnkrant, however, demands stricter enforcement of the laws from the rangers patrolling the parks and additional legislation to protect the city’s wild animals, alleging it’s “open season on the urban wildlife in New York City Parks every day.”

“If you come into our beach and you disrespect us as a community, by doing something like abducting a beautiful swan, there’s going to be a penalty to pay,” Ciaramella said, “and we’re going to work together to see it through.”