Blanche (foreground) and
Monday on the Palace lagoon
Photo: Gayle Hagerty

– Judy Whilt, from the Maybeck Foundation’s ‘Palace Memory Book’

The bucolic scene portrayed in these words was shattered when the body of Monday, one of two Palace of Fine Arts swans, was found dead. The same Judy Whilt discovered the 5-year-old female swan floating lifeless in the lagoon on the morning of Nov. 13.

Judy Whilt and Gayle Hagerty have been the private caretakers of the Palace swans for the last 17 years. Bringing fresh food and checking on their well being almost daily, they have cared for dozens of cygnets and adults over the years. While dealing with the loss of any of the swans has never been easy, this time it was devastating.

Hagerty arrived after receiving a call from Whilt and, pulling Monday from the pond, found that her neck had been broken. A necropsy performed at San Francisco Animal Care & Control (ACC) confirmed that the swan had died from a dislocated neck, with veterinarian Dr. Bing Dilts stating that she felt the death was not caused by a vehicle or an animal attack, but was most likely caused by humans.

Whilt and Hagerty agree as they saw no other visible injuries, but they did find feathers scattered among beer cans left from a party neighbors reported seeing the night before at the Baker Street side of the park.

Monday’s death leaves 13-year-old Blanche as the only swan remaining at the Palace. Last April their mother, Friday, mysteriously disappeared. It was believed Friday was stolen, and reports that she may have been located by ACC are being researched by the caretakers. On Wednesday, Nov. 24, Blanche, was also removed by ACC and temporarily placed with the San Francisco Zoo as a protective measure.

While Whilt and Hagerty were both concerned over the stress to Blanche from the move (she was born at the Palace), they are happy that she is receiving her first full medical examination while at the zoo. At a hearing held by ACC before Blanche’s relocation, S.F. Recreation and Park reiterated that the swans are the property of Rec and Park and need to be returned to the Palace, while asking for a commitment from the zoo for routine medical care for the swans in the future.

ACC stated that they want to see some improved safety and habitat features in place before Blanche is returned to her home. One of the safety features Hagerty and Whilt are working on is acquiring a male swan as a companion for Blanche, as males are naturally more protective.

Blanche is scheduled to be returned in January 2011, just in time for the grand re-opening of the renovated Palace of Fine Arts colonnade and rotunda landscaping.

Caretakers, neighbors, animal control officers, and animal lovers alike are angry over such a random and unjustified act of violence. A reward ($600 and growing) is offered for any information leading to an arrest and conviction for Monday’s death. Anyone with information is asked to call San Francisco Animal Care & Control at 415-554-9400.

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