Things looked hopeful for the establishment of a new resident population of Cygnus olor (Mute swan) on Loch Alpine lakes.
Events started out well and it was joyful to see Pen and Cob investigating the confines of their very own space and it was nice to see them arranging a giant twig nest in April.
I stated my concerns about their questionable nesting spot in the last Lore issue. My concerns were well founded. The nest was too close to water (right in it as a matter of fact), and too close to the heavily vegetated island where predators could get to Pen while she and Cob could not navigate the thick brush to chase them off. To top it off, the weather was simply too foul for fowl and high water finally inundated the nest. Toward the end poor Pen was frantically tossing out soggy nest material while Cob searched for anything dry to boost the eggs up out of the water. If swans could sweat-I'd say this was an "Arrid moment".
A few days after the water lowered somewhat I saw a live cygnet. There appeared to be about four more eggs. All of the eggs, even though they are laid days apart are amazingly hatched at about the same time so the whole family can set out on phase 2 of their summer of finding food and growing to adulthood.
It is bad news when just one egg hatches and the pen remains on the nest. The cob does not abandon his role of nest protector to become a baby sitter and so to prevent the single cygnet from starving, it is dispatched quickly.
I saw the pitiful little thing the next day draped over the edge of the nest. Pen sat a few more days and finally gave up. The pair resumed daily flights and one day flew off.
There is always next year.
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The Family in Better Days |
