Two forces of nature that are anathema to large, flying birds are howling winds and pea soup fog.
By the end of September, Pen and Cob Friendly had two cygnets left and they were just learning to fly when a large Mute pen and her half-Mute and half Whistling cygnet appeared. I called the Big Mama and Muteling. Pen and Cob thought it wiser to get out of their way and flew to the river but each day they would return to see if the coast was clear to come back, but alas, the visitors, like some relatives had hunkered down for an extended stay.
One pea-soup, Sunday morning the Friendlys made their daily check-up but couldn’t see a cable over Boyden Creek-now they are down to a threesome. Big Mama and Muteling were still pigging down on the diminishing cuisine of Greenook but decided to check out Bridgeway’s fare.
Now I have discussed how tricky it is for inexperienced and unsuspecting birds to fly from Greenook to Bridgeway. There are 3 options when approaching Bridgeway. Option 1 is to fly over the wires, option 2 is to scoot under them, and option 3 is to hit them head on. Big Mama, because of the wind, was forced into option 4. On option 4 you skip l, 2, and 3 and hit the big Willow tree instead. The tree won out.
Muteling wandered around Bridgeway for days, looking and calling for Big Mama. When she didn’t appear he left and I saw him tagging along behind a Mute foursome on the Huron River. By next summer he will have shed his brown feathers but will always have his Whistling swan black bill.
The pair that are on Greenook today, January 10, appear to be Pen and Cob. They keep checking out their island nest site but after the copious December rains it is entirely under water-then again-what isn’t?
Hugh and I are grateful to the “Swans” for presenting a bench and plaque at the playground in our honor. We love the benches and it warms our hearts and our bottoms to be the recipients of such a kind gesture.
