At five weeks of age, one of Caesar and Cleotoo's cygnets showed noticeable signs of illness. He could barely walk to huddle with the others and he could not keep up with the group in the water. A young bird that can not keep up immediately stands out and falls prey to predators. Fortunately, the natural predators were too busy elsewhere to notice on easy meal. The flock itself had to discourage the impaired one from seeking their protection and company.
It was interesting to observe that neither adult bird seriously ostracized the "sick" one, but the cygnets themselves took on the role of “enforcers". They were quite merciless in pecking him as he approached. I wondered if this was a "lesson" and if i t was learned behavior or instinct. Caesar backed away when the little bird bumped into him, but another cygnet rushed up to give him a firm peck.
In an effort to give the little bird same peace he was placed on Bridgeway Lake where he would either die peacefully or get better. To my great surprise, he got better. Perhaps he wasn't sick at all. Perhaps he had ingested something harmful which kept him from eating properly - maybe fishing line and/or hooks.
Another surprise! A few days after this deportation to Bridgeway, a "well' bird also popped up at the side of the weakened swan. No one has admitted fa placing the second cygnet there but I suppose it was done to keep the lonely bird company. Perhaps it even hastened his recovery. Isn't it odd too, that a flock of four cygnets would peck a "sick" bird, but in a one on one situation, the birds stuck together amicably. Who can understand the ways of the wild?
Now the cygnets on Greenook belong to a two parent family and are understandably more highly motivated, more aggressive, and more ready to start flying and all of that good stuff. In contrast, the two Bridgeway cast-offs are timid, withdrawn, not as socialized and not anyway near looking forward to the technical business of flight. Come December, we might have to book them space on a Christmas flight south. Economy of course.
Bridgeway Lake is unsuitable for wintering swans because it freezes almost entirely. When the temperature gets near zero for a period of time, only the small stream from the north remains open water. Swans will not take refuge up a narrow stream as ducks might because their flight habits are so different. The swan will stay out in the open where he can see better and where his 'escape" distance is greater. Only a sick or injured bird would seek to hide up the stream. Safety is a great concern for them; much greater than obtaining food. How they manage as the winter comes wit/ be o great concern. If the good folks on Bridgeway will keep an eye on them, maybe this will have an ending. I hope so.