Image courtesy of City of Lakeland, FL – Government Facebook page
Most people settle into a job and stick with it until retirement.
Steve Platt took that idea and gave it a twist.
Once upon a time, Platt made subs at Publix, carefully layering meats and cheeses, asking white or wheat? with the confidence of someone who knew exactly how you liked your sandwich. Then life took him on a turn only Florida could dream up.
Today, locals know him not as “the guy who once made your sub,” but as the Swanfather of Lake Morton, a title that sounds like a whimsical fairytale but is 100 percent real.
What a Swanfather Actually Does
Platt is a Grounds Maintenance Supervisor II for the City of Lakeland.
A big part of his job? Caring for the swans that live on Lake Morton and its surrounding ponds.
In an interview on the Welcome to Florida podcast, Platt shared that the flock currently includes 48 adult swans and five cygnets (baby swans) hatched this season. The birds you’ll see gliding across the water include white mute swans and Australian black swans, giving Lake Morton its signature, almost storybook look.
Each year, Platt and his crew lead the annual Swan Roundup, a long-standing local tradition where the swans are gently collected so veterinarians can conduct full health checks. The process requires coordination and patience. The team rides in johnboats, carefully guiding the swans into nets before placing them in pens overnight so they can calm down before their checkups. It’s a blend of patience, technique, and a bit of “don’t panic, it will be fine” energy.
Because the birds are microchipped, the city can keep accurate records and follow each swan’s health history year after year.
Locals, tourists, and curious onlookers gather along the shoreline to watch the unusual spectacle unfold.
Video courtesy of LkldNow via Facebook
Birds With a Local Legacy
On the surface, swans might look serene as they glide across the water.
But get a closer look at what Platt does, and it becomes clear this isn’t just animal care. It’s community stewardship, and Lakeland treats these swans like locals with a long-standing address.
Platt knows the birds well. He’s been there through countless Roundups. He’s handled cygnets and adults alike, helped nurse some through injuries, and watched as the flock propagates year after year. That care matters because the swans aren’t just something pretty to photograph. For many residents, feeding them by the lake’s edge is a rite of passage, a small tradition that generations have grown up with.
And the flock isn’t just famous. It’s historically extra.
Lakeland’s swan tradition traces back to 1957, when Queen Elizabeth II gifted the city an original pair of swans. Today’s birds are part of that legacy, which means Lake Morton is basically home to a royal family line, just with more feathers and less gossip.
A Job That Looks Better in Stories Than in Reality
Imagine guiding giant, elegant birds into nets without ruffling too many feathers. Literally.
That’s Steve’s life once a year.
He’s not chasing swans down a highway or wrestling them into submission. He’s not doing it for likes or views. He does it because these birds are part of the city’s identity, and because someone has to make sure they’re healthy.
In short, he went from carefully stacking cold cuts on Italian bread to helping preserve a living part of Lakeland’s folklore.
And honestly?
That’s a lot more interesting than most people’s 9-to-5.