Flying can be hazardous to your health. Especially if you are a novice, overweight cygnet and your familiar liquid environment has turned into rock solid ice, and the accustomed autumn breezes have become winter gales.
One windy November day took its toll and reduced our cygnet population from three to two.
I watched the threesome take off from the east end of the lake, fly over ice into a strong wind which lifted them higher than ever before, and I expected that they would maneuver around the spillway for another lower approach at a landing.
But only two came around. Later I found that the third bird apparently had too little space in which to turn and collided head-on into the earthen dam embankment.
In carrying him home for burial I discovered he was extremely heavy for a youngster. The copious vegetation here produces bigger birds and might be a handicap when it comes to aerobatics.
It is now two weeks into January and the cygnet pair are still here - the reason being that the prolonged warm weather has expanded their space so that Caesar is not pressuring them to leave.
With the really cold part of winter on the horizon, Caesar will keep them from sharing the limited open space and they will get the message that they must leave.
I am feeding them but they might lose a little weight (I hope), making it easier to stay aloft and find a nice wintering spot elsewhere.
Rest assured that they are going away well nourished.