Call me a fraud. a bird brain, an avian idiot, or whatever because I erroneously drew the conclusion that the two parentless cygnets on Bridgeway Lake wouid he severeiy handicapped in their development.
I said, "They will not learn to fly early enough to leave home before the really bad weather sets in." Wrong! Not only did they learn to fly on their own, but they were adventurous enough to set out on their own. They are gone, vamoosed, vanished. I guess if God gives out wings, He includes the directions too.
Early on October 15, I noticed white feathers floating pass the willow tree in front of our house on Greenook Lake. I thought it odd because it was much too late for any birds to be molting. When I couldn't find the Bridgeway pair on Saturday, and again on Monday, I knew what had transpired. The Bridgeway pair had flown to Greenook and were set upon by their siblings and driven off. I hope the Swan Angel is with them wherever they are.
A couple weeks ago I counted thirty swans on Little Portage and the next week they too had gone. I always hope our birds will be lucky enough to join up with a migrating flock to lead them to gentler climes. In a way they are much better off than the birds that hang around here until all the rivers and takes are frozen and the food supply scarce to non-existent.
