Cleotoo came back from the river on Thanksgiving and I fed her, on Boyden Creek, until January 21. On that day I watched her fly high and west along the river, possibly she continued north to Portage Lake where a large number of Mute Swans winter. This winter, however, with its prolonged cold weather, even Portage is not a good haven for waterfowl. In my 43 years here I have seldom seen the river so completely frozen for so long a time.
The dredging on Greenook was proceeding well but last week the work stopped. Even if Cleotoo returns, she'll not find her safe nesting spot-no water, no nest. Bridgeway Lake thaws after Greenook (sometime in early April) but I don't think she'll consider it home.
A few weeks ago, Dr. Kazanjian forwarded an e-mail to me from a gentleman in New Hampshire. His village has a pinioned pen, Fiona, on their ½ acre pond and he was searching the internet for additional information on the care of Mute Swans and came across our web site and my "Swans of Loch Alpine" articles from the Lore. I e-mailed back, suggesting they add wheat, duck pellets, bread and leafy greens to Fiona's diet of corn. I also suggested they buy the video, "Swans of Avon" from Stratford, Ont. which provides good insight into Mute Swan behavior. They would like a companion for Fiona but New Hampshire is pretty short on Mute Swans. I suggested contacting their local Bird Rescue Organization to learn of any swan keepers in their area and maybe they'll find a swan in need of a pond on which to be rehabilitated.
I was happy to learn that our many years of swan watching and our web site have been helpful to others. Many thanks to Dr. Kazanjian.