.The town also maintains a little flock of mute swans, about 20 at present, who spend the winter in a converted curling rink and march down to the river every spring. Their wings are clipped so they can't fly, ....

The swans should be free to come and go. If the environment is right for swans, they will stay around. If not, then they shouldn't be kept in unsuitable conditions like some sort of municipal fashion accessory. Nothing is more glorious than seeing a flight of swans coming in to land on a lake. The townsfolk don't know what they're missing.

DC