Swans, genus Cygnus, are birds of the family Anatidae, which also includes geese and ducks. Swans are grouped with the closely related geese in the subfamily Anserinae where they form the tribe Cygnini. Sometimes, they are considered a distinct subfamily, Cygninae. There are six to seven species of swan in the genus Cygnus; in addition there is another species known as a swan, the Coscoroba Swan, although this species is no longer considered related to the true swans. Swans usually mate for life, though 'divorce' does sometimes occur, particularly following nesting failure. The number of eggs in each clutch ranges from three to eight.The swans are the largest members of the duck family Anatidae, and are amongst the largest flying birds. The largest species, including the mute swan, trumpeter swan, and whooper swan, can reach length of over 1.5 m (60 inches) and weigh over 15 kg (33 pounds). Their wingspans can be almost 3 m (10 ft). Compared to the closely related geese they are much larger in size and have proportionally larger feet and necks.[2] They also have a patch of unfeathered skin between the eyes and bill in adults. The sexes are alike in plumage, but males are generally bigger and heavier than females.

Swan preening itselfThe Northern Hemisphere species of swan have pure white plumage but the Southern Hemisphere species are mixed black and white. The Australian Black Swan (Cygnus atratus) is completely black except for the white flight feathers on its wings; the chicks of black swans are light grey in colour, and the South American Black-necked Swan has a black neck.

The legs of swans are normally a dark blackish grey colour, except for the two South American species, which have pink legs. Bill colour varies: the four subarctic species have black bills with varying amounts of yellow, and all the others are patterned red and black, although most birds generally do not have teeth, swans are known to be an exception to this having small jagged 'teeth' as part of their beaks used for catching and eating fish. The Mute Swan and Black-necked Swan have a lump at the base of the bill on the upper mandible.Swans feed in the water and on land. They are almost entirely herbivorous, although small numbers of aquatic animals may be eaten. In the water food is obtained by up-ending or dabbling, and their diet is composed of the roots, tubers, stems and leaves of aquatic and submerged plants.[2]

A feeding Mute Swan in ice-covered pool, HanoverSwans form monogamous pair bonds that last for many years, and in some cases these can last for life.[4] Modern genetic techniques are starting to reveal that 'divorces' are more common than previously thought, as is mating with other swans outside of the social pairing, without breaking the social pair bond.[5] These bonds are maintained year round, even in gregarious and migratory species like the Tundra Swan, which congregate in large flocks in the wintering grounds.[6] The nest is on the ground near water and about a metre across. Unlike many other ducks and geese the male helps with the nest construction. Average egg size (for the mute swan) is 113×74 mm, weighing 340 g, in a clutch size of 4 to 7, and an incubation period of 34–45 days.[7] With the exception of the dendrocygninaes they are the only anatids where the males aid in incubating the eggs.

Mute swans have been observed to display homosexual or transgender behavior.

Swans, genus Cygnus, are birds of the family Anatidae, which also includes geese and ducks. Swans are grouped with the closely related geese in the subfamily Anserinae where they form the tribe Cygnini. Sometimes, they are considered a distinct subfamily, Cygninae. There are six to seven species of swan in the genus Cygnus; in addition there is another species known as a swan, the Coscoroba Swan, although this species is no longer considered related to the true swans. Swans usually mate for life, though 'divorce' does sometimes occur, particularly following nesting failure. The number of eggs in each clutch ranges from three to eight.The swans are the largest members of the duck family Anatidae, and are amongst the largest flying birds. The largest species, including the mute swan, trumpeter swan, and whooper swan, can reach length of over 1.5 m (60 inches) and weigh over 15 kg (33 pounds). Their wingspans can be almost 3 m (10 ft). Compared to the closely related geese they are much larger in size and have proportionally larger feet and necks.[2] They also have a patch of unfeathered skin between the eyes and bill in adults. The sexes are alike in plumage, but males are generally bigger and heavier than females.

Swan preening itselfThe Northern Hemisphere species of swan have pure white plumage but the Southern Hemisphere species are mixed black and white. The Australian Black Swan (Cygnus atratus) is completely black except for the white flight feathers on its wings; the chicks of black swans are light grey in colour, and the South American Black-necked Swan has a black neck.

The legs of swans are normally a dark blackish grey colour, except for the two South American species, which have pink legs. Bill colour varies: the four subarctic species have black bills with varying amounts of yellow, and all the others are patterned red and black, although most birds generally do not have teeth, swans are known to be an exception to this having small jagged 'teeth' as part of their beaks used for catching and eating fish. The Mute Swan and Black-necked Swan have a lump at the base of the bill on the upper mandible.Swans feed in the water and on land. They are almost entirely herbivorous, although small numbers of aquatic animals may be eaten. In the water food is obtained by up-ending or dabbling, and their diet is composed of the roots, tubers, stems and leaves of aquatic and submerged plants.[2]

A feeding Mute Swan in ice-covered pool, HanoverSwans form monogamous pair bonds that last for many years, and in some cases these can last for life.[4] Modern genetic techniques are starting to reveal that 'divorces' are more common than previously thought, as is mating with other swans outside of the social pairing, without breaking the social pair bond.[5] These bonds are maintained year round, even in gregarious and migratory species like the Tundra Swan, which congregate in large flocks in the wintering grounds.[6] The nest is on the ground near water and about a metre across. Unlike many other ducks and geese the male helps with the nest construction. Average egg size (for the mute swan) is 113×74 mm, weighing 340 g, in a clutch size of 4 to 7, and an incubation period of 34–45 days.[7] With the exception of the dendrocygninaes they are the only anatids where the males aid in incubating the eggs.

Mute swans have been observed to display homosexual or transgender behavior.

Swans, genus Cygnus, are birds of the family Anatidae, which also includes geese and ducks. Swans are grouped with the closely related geese in the subfamily Anserinae where they form the tribe Cygnini. Sometimes, they are considered a distinct subfamily, Cygninae. There are six to seven species of swan in the genus Cygnus; in addition there is another species known as a swan, the Coscoroba Swan, although this species is no longer considered related to the true swans. Swans usually mate for life, though 'divorce' does sometimes occur, particularly following nesting failure. The number of eggs in each clutch ranges from three to eight.The swans are the largest members of the duck family Anatidae, and are amongst the largest flying birds. The largest species, including the mute swan, trumpeter swan, and whooper swan, can reach length of over 1.5 m (60 inches) and weigh over 15 kg (33 pounds). Their wingspans can be almost 3 m (10 ft). Compared to the closely related geese they are much larger in size and have proportionally larger feet and necks.[2] They also have a patch of unfeathered skin between the eyes and bill in adults. The sexes are alike in plumage, but males are generally bigger and heavier than females.

Swan preening itselfThe Northern Hemisphere species of swan have pure white plumage but the Southern Hemisphere species are mixed black and white. The Australian Black Swan (Cygnus atratus) is completely black except for the white flight feathers on its wings; the chicks of black swans are light grey in colour, and the South American Black-necked Swan has a black neck.

The legs of swans are normally a dark blackish grey colour, except for the two South American species, which have pink legs. Bill colour varies: the four subarctic species have black bills with varying amounts of yellow, and all the others are patterned red and black, although most birds generally do not have teeth, swans are known to be an exception to this having small jagged 'teeth' as part of their beaks used for catching and eating fish. The Mute Swan and Black-necked Swan have a lump at the base of the bill on the upper mandible.Swans feed in the water and on land. They are almost entirely herbivorous, although small numbers of aquatic animals may be eaten. In the water food is obtained by up-ending or dabbling, and their diet is composed of the roots, tubers, stems and leaves of aquatic and submerged plants.[2]

A feeding Mute Swan in ice-covered pool, HanoverSwans form monogamous pair bonds that last for many years, and in some cases these can last for life.[4] Modern genetic techniques are starting to reveal that 'divorces' are more common than previously thought, as is mating with other swans outside of the social pairing, without breaking the social pair bond.[5] These bonds are maintained year round, even in gregarious and migratory species like the Tundra Swan, which congregate in large flocks in the wintering grounds.[6] The nest is on the ground near water and about a metre across. Unlike many other ducks and geese the male helps with the nest construction. Average egg size (for the mute swan) is 113×74 mm, weighing 340 g, in a clutch size of 4 to 7, and an incubation period of 34–45 days.[7] With the exception of the dendrocygninaes they are the only anatids where the males aid in incubating the eggs.

Mute swans have been observed to display homosexual or transgender behavior.

Swans, genus Cygnus, are birds of the family Anatidae, which also includes geese and ducks. Swans are grouped with the closely related geese in the subfamily Anserinae where they form the tribe Cygnini. Sometimes, they are considered a distinct subfamily, Cygninae. There are six to seven species of swan in the genus Cygnus; in addition there is another species known as a swan, the Coscoroba Swan, although this species is no longer considered related to the true swans. Swans usually mate for life, though 'divorce' does sometimes occur, particularly following nesting failure. The number of eggs in each clutch ranges from three to eight.The swans are the largest members of the duck family Anatidae, and are amongst the largest flying birds. The largest species, including the mute swan, trumpeter swan, and whooper swan, can reach length of over 1.5 m (60 inches) and weigh over 15 kg (33 pounds). Their wingspans can be almost 3 m (10 ft). Compared to the closely related geese they are much larger in size and have proportionally larger feet and necks.[2] They also have a patch of unfeathered skin between the eyes and bill in adults. The sexes are alike in plumage, but males are generally bigger and heavier than females.

Swan preening itselfThe Northern Hemisphere species of swan have pure white plumage but the Southern Hemisphere species are mixed black and white. The Australian Black Swan (Cygnus atratus) is completely black except for the white flight feathers on its wings; the chicks of black swans are light grey in colour, and the South American Black-necked Swan has a black neck.

The legs of swans are normally a dark blackish grey colour, except for the two South American species, which have pink legs. Bill colour varies: the four subarctic species have black bills with varying amounts of yellow, and all the others are patterned red and black, although most birds generally do not have teeth, swans are known to be an exception to this having small jagged 'teeth' as part of their beaks used for catching and eating fish. The Mute Swan and Black-necked Swan have a lump at the base of the bill on the upper mandible.Swans feed in the water and on land. They are almost entirely herbivorous, although small numbers of aquatic animals may be eaten. In the water food is obtained by up-ending or dabbling, and their diet is composed of the roots, tubers, stems and leaves of aquatic and submerged plants.[2]

A feeding Mute Swan in ice-covered pool, HanoverSwans form monogamous pair bonds that last for many years, and in some cases these can last for life.[4] Modern genetic techniques are starting to reveal that 'divorces' are more common than previously thought, as is mating with other swans outside of the social pairing, without breaking the social pair bond.[5] These bonds are maintained year round, even in gregarious and migratory species like the Tundra Swan, which congregate in large flocks in the wintering grounds.[6] The nest is on the ground near water and about a metre across. Unlike many other ducks and geese the male helps with the nest construction. Average egg size (for the mute swan) is 113×74 mm, weighing 340 g, in a clutch size of 4 to 7, and an incubation period of 34–45 days.[7] With the exception of the dendrocygninaes they are the only anatids where the males aid in incubating the eggs.

Mute swans have been observed to display homosexual or transgender behavior.

Swans, genus Cygnus, are birds of the family Anatidae, which also includes geese and ducks. Swans are grouped with the closely related geese in the subfamily Anserinae where they form the tribe Cygnini. Sometimes, they are considered a distinct subfamily, Cygninae. There are six to seven species of swan in the genus Cygnus; in addition there is another species known as a swan, the Coscoroba Swan, although this species is no longer considered related to the true swans. Swans usually mate for life, though 'divorce' does sometimes occur, particularly following nesting failure. The number of eggs in each clutch ranges from three to eight.The swans are the largest members of the duck family Anatidae, and are amongst the largest flying birds. The largest species, including the mute swan, trumpeter swan, and whooper swan, can reach length of over 1.5 m (60 inches) and weigh over 15 kg (33 pounds). Their wingspans can be almost 3 m (10 ft). Compared to the closely related geese they are much larger in size and have proportionally larger feet and necks.[2] They also have a patch of unfeathered skin between the eyes and bill in adults. The sexes are alike in plumage, but males are generally bigger and heavier than females.

Swan preening itselfThe Northern Hemisphere species of swan have pure white plumage but the Southern Hemisphere species are mixed black and white. The Australian Black Swan (Cygnus atratus) is completely black except for the white flight feathers on its wings; the chicks of black swans are light grey in colour, and the South American Black-necked Swan has a black neck.

The legs of swans are normally a dark blackish grey colour, except for the two South American species, which have pink legs. Bill colour varies: the four subarctic species have black bills with varying amounts of yellow, and all the others are patterned red and black, although most birds generally do not have teeth, swans are known to be an exception to this having small jagged 'teeth' as part of their beaks used for catching and eating fish. The Mute Swan and Black-necked Swan have a lump at the base of the bill on the upper mandible.Swans feed in the water and on land. They are almost entirely herbivorous, although small numbers of aquatic animals may be eaten. In the water food is obtained by up-ending or dabbling, and their diet is composed of the roots, tubers, stems and leaves of aquatic and submerged plants.[2]

A feeding Mute Swan in ice-covered pool, HanoverSwans form monogamous pair bonds that last for many years, and in some cases these can last for life.[4] Modern genetic techniques are starting to reveal that 'divorces' are more common than previously thought, as is mating with other swans outside of the social pairing, without breaking the social pair bond.[5] These bonds are maintained year round, even in gregarious and migratory species like the Tundra Swan, which congregate in large flocks in the wintering grounds.[6] The nest is on the ground near water and about a metre across. Unlike many other ducks and geese the male helps with the nest construction. Average egg size (for the mute swan) is 113×74 mm, weighing 340 g, in a clutch size of 4 to 7, and an incubation period of 34–45 days.[7] With the exception of the dendrocygninaes they are the only anatids where the males aid in incubating the eggs.

Mute swans have been observed to display homosexual or transgender behavior.

Swans, genus Cygnus, are birds of the family Anatidae, which also includes geese and ducks. Swans are grouped with the closely related geese in the subfamily Anserinae where they form the tribe Cygnini. Sometimes, they are considered a distinct subfamily, Cygninae. There are six to seven species of swan in the genus Cygnus; in addition there is another species known as a swan, the Coscoroba Swan, although this species is no longer considered related to the true swans. Swans usually mate for life, though 'divorce' does sometimes occur, particularly following nesting failure. The number of eggs in each clutch ranges from three to eight.The swans are the largest members of the duck family Anatidae, and are amongst the largest flying birds. The largest species, including the mute swan, trumpeter swan, and whooper swan, can reach length of over 1.5 m (60 inches) and weigh over 15 kg (33 pounds). Their wingspans can be almost 3 m (10 ft). Compared to the closely related geese they are much larger in size and have proportionally larger feet and necks.[2] They also have a patch of unfeathered skin between the eyes and bill in adults. The sexes are alike in plumage, but males are generally bigger and heavier than females.

Swan preening itselfThe Northern Hemisphere species of swan have pure white plumage but the Southern Hemisphere species are mixed black and white. The Australian Black Swan (Cygnus atratus) is completely black except for the white flight feathers on its wings; the chicks of black swans are light grey in colour, and the South American Black-necked Swan has a black neck.

The legs of swans are normally a dark blackish grey colour, except for the two South American species, which have pink legs. Bill colour varies: the four subarctic species have black bills with varying amounts of yellow, and all the others are patterned red and black, although most birds generally do not have teeth, swans are known to be an exception to this having small jagged 'teeth' as part of their beaks used for catching and eating fish. The Mute Swan and Black-necked Swan have a lump at the base of the bill on the upper mandible.Swans feed in the water and on land. They are almost entirely herbivorous, although small numbers of aquatic animals may be eaten. In the water food is obtained by up-ending or dabbling, and their diet is composed of the roots, tubers, stems and leaves of aquatic and submerged plants.[2]

A feeding Mute Swan in ice-covered pool, HanoverSwans form monogamous pair bonds that last for many years, and in some cases these can last for life.[4] Modern genetic techniques are starting to reveal that 'divorces' are more common than previously thought, as is mating with other swans outside of the social pairing, without breaking the social pair bond.[5] These bonds are maintained year round, even in gregarious and migratory species like the Tundra Swan, which congregate in large flocks in the wintering grounds.[6] The nest is on the ground near water and about a metre across. Unlike many other ducks and geese the male helps with the nest construction. Average egg size (for the mute swan) is 113×74 mm, weighing 340 g, in a clutch size of 4 to 7, and an incubation period of 34–45 days.[7] With the exception of the dendrocygninaes they are the only anatids where the males aid in incubating the eggs.

Mute swans have been observed to display homosexual or transgender behavior.

EXPLORE Jan 9 - 2010 #405

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Swans, genus Cygnus, are birds of the family Anatidae, which also includes geese and ducks. Swans are grouped with the closely related geese in the subfamily Anserinae where they form the tribe Cygnini. Sometimes, they are considered a distinct subfamily, Cygninae. There are six to seven species of swan in the genus Cygnus; in addition there is another species known as a swan, the Coscoroba Swan, although this species is no longer considered related to the true swans. Swans usually mate for life, though 'divorce' does sometimes occur, particularly following nesting failure. The number of eggs in each clutch ranges from three to eight.The swans are the largest members of the duck family Anatidae, and are amongst the largest flying birds. The largest species, including the mute swan, trumpeter swan, and whooper swan, can reach length of over 1.5 m (60 inches) and weigh over 15 kg (33 pounds). Their wingspans can be almost 3 m (10 ft). Compared to the closely related geese they are much larger in size and have proportionally larger feet and necks.[2] They also have a patch of unfeathered skin between the eyes and bill in adults. The sexes are alike in plumage, but males are generally bigger and heavier than females.

Swan preening itselfThe Northern Hemisphere species of swan have pure white plumage but the Southern Hemisphere species are mixed black and white. The Australian Black Swan (Cygnus atratus) is completely black except for the white flight feathers on its wings; the chicks of black swans are light grey in colour, and the South American Black-necked Swan has a black neck.

The legs of swans are normally a dark blackish grey colour, except for the two South American species, which have pink legs. Bill colour varies: the four subarctic species have black bills with varying amounts of yellow, and all the others are patterned red and black, although most birds generally do not have teeth, swans are known to be an exception to this having small jagged 'teeth' as part of their beaks used for catching and eating fish. The Mute Swan and Black-necked Swan have a lump at the base of the bill on the upper mandible.Swans feed in the water and on land. They are almost entirely herbivorous, although small numbers of aquatic animals may be eaten. In the water food is obtained by up-ending or dabbling, and their diet is composed of the roots, tubers, stems and leaves of aquatic and submerged plants.[2]

A feeding Mute Swan in ice-covered pool, HanoverSwans form monogamous pair bonds that last for many years, and in some cases these can last for life.[4] Modern genetic techniques are starting to reveal that 'divorces' are more common than previously thought, as is mating with other swans outside of the social pairing, without breaking the social pair bond.[5] These bonds are maintained year round, even in gregarious and migratory species like the Tundra Swan, which congregate in large flocks in the wintering grounds.[6] The nest is on the ground near water and about a metre across. Unlike many other ducks and geese the male helps with the nest construction. Average egg size (for the mute swan) is 113×74 mm, weighing 340 g, in a clutch size of 4 to 7, and an incubation period of 34–45 days.[7] With the exception of the dendrocygninaes they are the only anatids where the males aid in incubating the eggs.

Mute swans have been observed to display homosexual or transgender behavior.

Swans, genus Cygnus, are birds of the family Anatidae, which also includes geese and ducks. Swans are grouped with the closely related geese in the subfamily Anserinae where they form the tribe Cygnini. Sometimes, they are considered a distinct subfamily, Cygninae. There are six to seven species of swan in the genus Cygnus; in addition there is another species known as a swan, the Coscoroba Swan, although this species is no longer considered related to the true swans. Swans usually mate for life, though 'divorce' does sometimes occur, particularly following nesting failure. The number of eggs in each clutch ranges from three to eight.The swans are the largest members of the duck family Anatidae, and are amongst the largest flying birds. The largest species, including the mute swan, trumpeter swan, and whooper swan, can reach length of over 1.5 m (60 inches) and weigh over 15 kg (33 pounds). Their wingspans can be almost 3 m (10 ft). Compared to the closely related geese they are much larger in size and have proportionally larger feet and necks.[2] They also have a patch of unfeathered skin between the eyes and bill in adults. The sexes are alike in plumage, but males are generally bigger and heavier than females.

Swan preening itselfThe Northern Hemisphere species of swan have pure white plumage but the Southern Hemisphere species are mixed black and white. The Australian Black Swan (Cygnus atratus) is completely black except for the white flight feathers on its wings; the chicks of black swans are light grey in colour, and the South American Black-necked Swan has a black neck.

The legs of swans are normally a dark blackish grey colour, except for the two South American species, which have pink legs. Bill colour varies: the four subarctic species have black bills with varying amounts of yellow, and all the others are patterned red and black, although most birds generally do not have teeth, swans are known to be an exception to this having small jagged 'teeth' as part of their beaks used for catching and eating fish. The Mute Swan and Black-necked Swan have a lump at the base of the bill on the upper mandible.Swans feed in the water and on land. They are almost entirely herbivorous, although small numbers of aquatic animals may be eaten. In the water food is obtained by up-ending or dabbling, and their diet is composed of the roots, tubers, stems and leaves of aquatic and submerged plants.[2]

A feeding Mute Swan in ice-covered pool, HanoverSwans form monogamous pair bonds that last for many years, and in some cases these can last for life.[4] Modern genetic techniques are starting to reveal that 'divorces' are more common than previously thought, as is mating with other swans outside of the social pairing, without breaking the social pair bond.[5] These bonds are maintained year round, even in gregarious and migratory species like the Tundra Swan, which congregate in large flocks in the wintering grounds.[6] The nest is on the ground near water and about a metre across. Unlike many other ducks and geese the male helps with the nest construction. Average egg size (for the mute swan) is 113×74 mm, weighing 340 g, in a clutch size of 4 to 7, and an incubation period of 34–45 days.[7] With the exception of the dendrocygninaes they are the only anatids where the males aid in incubating the eggs.

Mute swans have been observed to display homosexual or transgender behavior.

Swans, genus Cygnus, are birds of the family Anatidae, which also includes geese and ducks. Swans are grouped with the closely related geese in the subfamily Anserinae where they form the tribe Cygnini. Sometimes, they are considered a distinct subfamily, Cygninae. There are six to seven species of swan in the genus Cygnus; in addition there is another species known as a swan, the Coscoroba Swan, although this species is no longer considered related to the true swans. Swans usually mate for life, though 'divorce' does sometimes occur, particularly following nesting failure. The number of eggs in each clutch ranges from three to eight.The swans are the largest members of the duck family Anatidae, and are amongst the largest flying birds. The largest species, including the mute swan, trumpeter swan, and whooper swan, can reach length of over 1.5 m (60 inches) and weigh over 15 kg (33 pounds). Their wingspans can be almost 3 m (10 ft). Compared to the closely related geese they are much larger in size and have proportionally larger feet and necks.[2] They also have a patch of unfeathered skin between the eyes and bill in adults. The sexes are alike in plumage, but males are generally bigger and heavier than females.

Swan preening itselfThe Northern Hemisphere species of swan have pure white plumage but the Southern Hemisphere species are mixed black and white. The Australian Black Swan (Cygnus atratus) is completely black except for the white flight feathers on its wings; the chicks of black swans are light grey in colour, and the South American Black-necked Swan has a black neck.

The legs of swans are normally a dark blackish grey colour, except for the two South American species, which have pink legs. Bill colour varies: the four subarctic species have black bills with varying amounts of yellow, and all the others are patterned red and black, although most birds generally do not have teeth, swans are known to be an exception to this having small jagged 'teeth' as part of their beaks used for catching and eating fish. The Mute Swan and Black-necked Swan have a lump at the base of the bill on the upper mandible.Swans feed in the water and on land. They are almost entirely herbivorous, although small numbers of aquatic animals may be eaten. In the water food is obtained by up-ending or dabbling, and their diet is composed of the roots, tubers, stems and leaves of aquatic and submerged plants.[2]

A feeding Mute Swan in ice-covered pool, HanoverSwans form monogamous pair bonds that last for many years, and in some cases these can last for life.[4] Modern genetic techniques are starting to reveal that 'divorces' are more common than previously thought, as is mating with other swans outside of the social pairing, without breaking the social pair bond.[5] These bonds are maintained year round, even in gregarious and migratory species like the Tundra Swan, which congregate in large flocks in the wintering grounds.[6] The nest is on the ground near water and about a metre across. Unlike many other ducks and geese the male helps with the nest construction. Average egg size (for the mute swan) is 113×74 mm, weighing 340 g, in a clutch size of 4 to 7, and an incubation period of 34–45 days.[7] With the exception of the dendrocygninaes they are the only anatids where the males aid in incubating the eggs.

Mute swans have been observed to display homosexual or transgender behavior.

Swans, genus Cygnus, are birds of the family Anatidae, which also includes geese and ducks. Swans are grouped with the closely related geese in the subfamily Anserinae where they form the tribe Cygnini. Sometimes, they are considered a distinct subfamily, Cygninae. There are six to seven species of swan in the genus Cygnus; in addition there is another species known as a swan, the Coscoroba Swan, although this species is no longer considered related to the true swans. Swans usually mate for life, though 'divorce' does sometimes occur, particularly following nesting failure. The number of eggs in each clutch ranges from three to eight.The swans are the largest members of the duck family Anatidae, and are amongst the largest flying birds. The largest species, including the mute swan, trumpeter swan, and whooper swan, can reach length of over 1.5 m (60 inches) and weigh over 15 kg (33 pounds). Their wingspans can be almost 3 m (10 ft). Compared to the closely related geese they are much larger in size and have proportionally larger feet and necks.[2] They also have a patch of unfeathered skin between the eyes and bill in adults. The sexes are alike in plumage, but males are generally bigger and heavier than females.

Swan preening itselfThe Northern Hemisphere species of swan have pure white plumage but the Southern Hemisphere species are mixed black and white. The Australian Black Swan (Cygnus atratus) is completely black except for the white flight feathers on its wings; the chicks of black swans are light grey in colour, and the South American Black-necked Swan has a black neck.

The legs of swans are normally a dark blackish grey colour, except for the two South American species, which have pink legs. Bill colour varies: the four subarctic species have black bills with varying amounts of yellow, and all the others are patterned red and black, although most birds generally do not have teeth, swans are known to be an exception to this having small jagged 'teeth' as part of their beaks used for catching and eating fish. The Mute Swan and Black-necked Swan have a lump at the base of the bill on the upper mandible.Swans feed in the water and on land. They are almost entirely herbivorous, although small numbers of aquatic animals may be eaten. In the water food is obtained by up-ending or dabbling, and their diet is composed of the roots, tubers, stems and leaves of aquatic and submerged plants.[2]

A feeding Mute Swan in ice-covered pool, HanoverSwans form monogamous pair bonds that last for many years, and in some cases these can last for life.[4] Modern genetic techniques are starting to reveal that 'divorces' are more common than previously thought, as is mating with other swans outside of the social pairing, without breaking the social pair bond.[5] These bonds are maintained year round, even in gregarious and migratory species like the Tundra Swan, which congregate in large flocks in the wintering grounds.[6] The nest is on the ground near water and about a metre across. Unlike many other ducks and geese the male helps with the nest construction. Average egg size (for the mute swan) is 113×74 mm, weighing 340 g, in a clutch size of 4 to 7, and an incubation period of 34–45 days.[7] With the exception of the dendrocygninaes they are the only anatids where the males aid in incubating the eggs.

Mute swans have been observed to display homosexual or transgender behavior.

Swans, genus Cygnus, are birds of the family Anatidae, which also includes geese and ducks. Swans are grouped with the closely related geese in the subfamily Anserinae where they form the tribe Cygnini. Sometimes, they are considered a distinct subfamily, Cygninae. There are six to seven species of swan in the genus Cygnus; in addition there is another species known as a swan, the Coscoroba Swan, although this species is no longer considered related to the true swans. Swans usually mate for life, though 'divorce' does sometimes occur, particularly following nesting failure. The number of eggs in each clutch ranges from three to eight.The swans are the largest members of the duck family Anatidae, and are amongst the largest flying birds. The largest species, including the mute swan, trumpeter swan, and whooper swan, can reach length of over 1.5 m (60 inches) and weigh over 15 kg (33 pounds). Their wingspans can be almost 3 m (10 ft). Compared to the closely related geese they are much larger in size and have proportionally larger feet and necks.[2] They also have a patch of unfeathered skin between the eyes and bill in adults. The sexes are alike in plumage, but males are generally bigger and heavier than females.

Swan preening itselfThe Northern Hemisphere species of swan have pure white plumage but the Southern Hemisphere species are mixed black and white. The Australian Black Swan (Cygnus atratus) is completely black except for the white flight feathers on its wings; the chicks of black swans are light grey in colour, and the South American Black-necked Swan has a black neck.

The legs of swans are normally a dark blackish grey colour, except for the two South American species, which have pink legs. Bill colour varies: the four subarctic species have black bills with varying amounts of yellow, and all the others are patterned red and black, although most birds generally do not have teeth, swans are known to be an exception to this having small jagged 'teeth' as part of their beaks used for catching and eating fish. The Mute Swan and Black-necked Swan have a lump at the base of the bill on the upper mandible.Swans feed in the water and on land. They are almost entirely herbivorous, although small numbers of aquatic animals may be eaten. In the water food is obtained by up-ending or dabbling, and their diet is composed of the roots, tubers, stems and leaves of aquatic and submerged plants.[2]

A feeding Mute Swan in ice-covered pool, HanoverSwans form monogamous pair bonds that last for many years, and in some cases these can last for life.[4] Modern genetic techniques are starting to reveal that 'divorces' are more common than previously thought, as is mating with other swans outside of the social pairing, without breaking the social pair bond.[5] These bonds are maintained year round, even in gregarious and migratory species like the Tundra Swan, which congregate in large flocks in the wintering grounds.[6] The nest is on the ground near water and about a metre across. Unlike many other ducks and geese the male helps with the nest construction. Average egg size (for the mute swan) is 113×74 mm, weighing 340 g, in a clutch size of 4 to 7, and an incubation period of 34–45 days.[7] With the exception of the dendrocygninaes they are the only anatids where the males aid in incubating the eggs.

Mute swans have been observed to display homosexual or transgender behavior.

Swans, genus Cygnus, are birds of the family Anatidae, which also includes geese and ducks. Swans are grouped with the closely related geese in the subfamily Anserinae where they form the tribe Cygnini. Sometimes, they are considered a distinct subfamily, Cygninae. There are six to seven species of swan in the genus Cygnus; in addition there is another species known as a swan, the Coscoroba Swan, although this species is no longer considered related to the true swans. Swans usually mate for life, though 'divorce' does sometimes occur, particularly following nesting failure. The number of eggs in each clutch ranges from three to eight.The swans are the largest members of the duck family Anatidae, and are amongst the largest flying birds. The largest species, including the mute swan, trumpeter swan, and whooper swan, can reach length of over 1.5 m (60 inches) and weigh over 15 kg (33 pounds). Their wingspans can be almost 3 m (10 ft). Compared to the closely related geese they are much larger in size and have proportionally larger feet and necks.[2] They also have a patch of unfeathered skin between the eyes and bill in adults. The sexes are alike in plumage, but males are generally bigger and heavier than females.

Swan preening itselfThe Northern Hemisphere species of swan have pure white plumage but the Southern Hemisphere species are mixed black and white. The Australian Black Swan (Cygnus atratus) is completely black except for the white flight feathers on its wings; the chicks of black swans are light grey in colour, and the South American Black-necked Swan has a black neck.

The legs of swans are normally a dark blackish grey colour, except for the two South American species, which have pink legs. Bill colour varies: the four subarctic species have black bills with varying amounts of yellow, and all the others are patterned red and black, although most birds generally do not have teeth, swans are known to be an exception to this having small jagged 'teeth' as part of their beaks used for catching and eating fish. The Mute Swan and Black-necked Swan have a lump at the base of the bill on the upper mandible.Swans feed in the water and on land. They are almost entirely herbivorous, although small numbers of aquatic animals may be eaten. In the water food is obtained by up-ending or dabbling, and their diet is composed of the roots, tubers, stems and leaves of aquatic and submerged plants.[2]

A feeding Mute Swan in ice-covered pool, HanoverSwans form monogamous pair bonds that last for many years, and in some cases these can last for life.[4] Modern genetic techniques are starting to reveal that 'divorces' are more common than previously thought, as is mating with other swans outside of the social pairing, without breaking the social pair bond.[5] These bonds are maintained year round, even in gregarious and migratory species like the Tundra Swan, which congregate in large flocks in the wintering grounds.[6] The nest is on the ground near water and about a metre across. Unlike many other ducks and geese the male helps with the nest construction. Average egg size (for the mute swan) is 113×74 mm, weighing 340 g, in a clutch size of 4 to 7, and an incubation period of 34–45 days.[7] With the exception of the dendrocygninaes they are the only anatids where the males aid in incubating the eggs.

Mute swans have been observed to display homosexual or transgender behavior.

Swans, genus Cygnus, are birds of the family Anatidae, which also includes geese and ducks. Swans are grouped with the closely related geese in the subfamily Anserinae where they form the tribe Cygnini. Sometimes, they are considered a distinct subfamily, Cygninae. There are six to seven species of swan in the genus Cygnus; in addition there is another species known as a swan, the Coscoroba Swan, although this species is no longer considered related to the true swans. Swans usually mate for life, though 'divorce' does sometimes occur, particularly following nesting failure. The number of eggs in each clutch ranges from three to eight.The swans are the largest members of the duck family Anatidae, and are amongst the largest flying birds. The largest species, including the mute swan, trumpeter swan, and whooper swan, can reach length of over 1.5 m (60 inches) and weigh over 15 kg (33 pounds). Their wingspans can be almost 3 m (10 ft). Compared to the closely related geese they are much larger in size and have proportionally larger feet and necks.[2] They also have a patch of unfeathered skin between the eyes and bill in adults. The sexes are alike in plumage, but males are generally bigger and heavier than females.

Swan preening itselfThe Northern Hemisphere species of swan have pure white plumage but the Southern Hemisphere species are mixed black and white. The Australian Black Swan (Cygnus atratus) is completely black except for the white flight feathers on its wings; the chicks of black swans are light grey in colour, and the South American Black-necked Swan has a black neck.

The legs of swans are normally a dark blackish grey colour, except for the two South American species, which have pink legs. Bill colour varies: the four subarctic species have black bills with varying amounts of yellow, and all the others are patterned red and black, although most birds generally do not have teeth, swans are known to be an exception to this having small jagged 'teeth' as part of their beaks used for catching and eating fish. The Mute Swan and Black-necked Swan have a lump at the base of the bill on the upper mandible.Swans feed in the water and on land. They are almost entirely herbivorous, although small numbers of aquatic animals may be eaten. In the water food is obtained by up-ending or dabbling, and their diet is composed of the roots, tubers, stems and leaves of aquatic and submerged plants.[2]

A feeding Mute Swan in ice-covered pool, HanoverSwans form monogamous pair bonds that last for many years, and in some cases these can last for life.[4] Modern genetic techniques are starting to reveal that 'divorces' are more common than previously thought, as is mating with other swans outside of the social pairing, without breaking the social pair bond.[5] These bonds are maintained year round, even in gregarious and migratory species like the Tundra Swan, which congregate in large flocks in the wintering grounds.[6] The nest is on the ground near water and about a metre across. Unlike many other ducks and geese the male helps with the nest construction. Average egg size (for the mute swan) is 113×74 mm, weighing 340 g, in a clutch size of 4 to 7, and an incubation period of 34–45 days.[7] With the exception of the dendrocygninaes they are the only anatids where the males aid in incubating the eggs.

Mute swans have been observed to display homosexual or transgender behavior.

Swans, genus Cygnus, are birds of the family Anatidae, which also includes geese and ducks. Swans are grouped with the closely related geese in the subfamily Anserinae where they form the tribe Cygnini. Sometimes, they are considered a distinct subfamily, Cygninae. There are six to seven species of swan in the genus Cygnus; in addition there is another species known as a swan, the Coscoroba Swan, although this species is no longer considered related to the true swans. Swans usually mate for life, though 'divorce' does sometimes occur, particularly following nesting failure. The number of eggs in each clutch ranges from three to eight.The swans are the largest members of the duck family Anatidae, and are amongst the largest flying birds. The largest species, including the mute swan, trumpeter swan, and whooper swan, can reach length of over 1.5 m (60 inches) and weigh over 15 kg (33 pounds). Their wingspans can be almost 3 m (10 ft). Compared to the closely related geese they are much larger in size and have proportionally larger feet and necks.[2] They also have a patch of unfeathered skin between the eyes and bill in adults. The sexes are alike in plumage, but males are generally bigger and heavier than females.

Swan preening itselfThe Northern Hemisphere species of swan have pure white plumage but the Southern Hemisphere species are mixed black and white. The Australian Black Swan (Cygnus atratus) is completely black except for the white flight feathers on its wings; the chicks of black swans are light grey in colour, and the South American Black-necked Swan has a black neck.

The legs of swans are normally a dark blackish grey colour, except for the two South American species, which have pink legs. Bill colour varies: the four subarctic species have black bills with varying amounts of yellow, and all the others are patterned red and black, although most birds generally do not have teeth, swans are known to be an exception to this having small jagged 'teeth' as part of their beaks used for catching and eating fish. The Mute Swan and Black-necked Swan have a lump at the base of the bill on the upper mandible.Swans feed in the water and on land. They are almost entirely herbivorous, although small numbers of aquatic animals may be eaten. In the water food is obtained by up-ending or dabbling, and their diet is composed of the roots, tubers, stems and leaves of aquatic and submerged plants.[2]

A feeding Mute Swan in ice-covered pool, HanoverSwans form monogamous pair bonds that last for many years, and in some cases these can last for life.[4] Modern genetic techniques are starting to reveal that 'divorces' are more common than previously thought, as is mating with other swans outside of the social pairing, without breaking the social pair bond.[5] These bonds are maintained year round, even in gregarious and migratory species like the Tundra Swan, which congregate in large flocks in the wintering grounds.[6] The nest is on the ground near water and about a metre across. Unlike many other ducks and geese the male helps with the nest construction. Average egg size (for the mute swan) is 113×74 mm, weighing 340 g, in a clutch size of 4 to 7, and an incubation period of 34–45 days.[7] With the exception of the dendrocygninaes they are the only anatids where the males aid in incubating the eggs.

Mute swans have been observed to display homosexual or transgender behavior.

EXPLORE Apr 20 - 2010 # 425

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Swans, genus Cygnus, are birds of the family Anatidae, which also includes geese and ducks. Swans are grouped with the closely related geese in the subfamily Anserinae where they form the tribe Cygnini. Sometimes, they are considered a distinct subfamily, Cygninae. There are six to seven species of swan in the genus Cygnus; in addition there is another species known as a swan, the Coscoroba Swan, although this species is no longer considered related to the true swans. Swans usually mate for life, though 'divorce' does sometimes occur, particularly following nesting failure. The number of eggs in each clutch ranges from three to eight.The swans are the largest members of the duck family Anatidae, and are amongst the largest flying birds. The largest species, including the mute swan, trumpeter swan, and whooper swan, can reach length of over 1.5 m (60 inches) and weigh over 15 kg (33 pounds). Their wingspans can be almost 3 m (10 ft). Compared to the closely related geese they are much larger in size and have proportionally larger feet and necks.[2] They also have a patch of unfeathered skin between the eyes and bill in adults. The sexes are alike in plumage, but males are generally bigger and heavier than females.

Swan preening itselfThe Northern Hemisphere species of swan have pure white plumage but the Southern Hemisphere species are mixed black and white. The Australian Black Swan (Cygnus atratus) is completely black except for the white flight feathers on its wings; the chicks of black swans are light grey in colour, and the South American Black-necked Swan has a black neck.

The legs of swans are normally a dark blackish grey colour, except for the two South American species, which have pink legs. Bill colour varies: the four subarctic species have black bills with varying amounts of yellow, and all the others are patterned red and black, although most birds generally do not have teeth, swans are known to be an exception to this having small jagged 'teeth' as part of their beaks used for catching and eating fish. The Mute Swan and Black-necked Swan have a lump at the base of the bill on the upper mandible.Swans feed in the water and on land. They are almost entirely herbivorous, although small numbers of aquatic animals may be eaten. In the water food is obtained by up-ending or dabbling, and their diet is composed of the roots, tubers, stems and leaves of aquatic and submerged plants.[2]

A feeding Mute Swan in ice-covered pool, HanoverSwans form monogamous pair bonds that last for many years, and in some cases these can last for life.[4] Modern genetic techniques are starting to reveal that 'divorces' are more common than previously thought, as is mating with other swans outside of the social pairing, without breaking the social pair bond.[5] These bonds are maintained year round, even in gregarious and migratory species like the Tundra Swan, which congregate in large flocks in the wintering grounds.[6] The nest is on the ground near water and about a metre across. Unlike many other ducks and geese the male helps with the nest construction. Average egg size (for the mute swan) is 113×74 mm, weighing 340 g, in a clutch size of 4 to 7, and an incubation period of 34–45 days.[7] With the exception of the dendrocygninaes they are the only anatids where the males aid in incubating the eggs.

Mute swans have been observed to display homosexual or transgender behavior.

Swans, genus Cygnus, are birds of the family Anatidae, which also includes geese and ducks. Swans are grouped with the closely related geese in the subfamily Anserinae where they form the tribe Cygnini. Sometimes, they are considered a distinct subfamily, Cygninae. There are six to seven species of swan in the genus Cygnus; in addition there is another species known as a swan, the Coscoroba Swan, although this species is no longer considered related to the true swans. Swans usually mate for life, though 'divorce' does sometimes occur, particularly following nesting failure. The number of eggs in each clutch ranges from three to eight.The swans are the largest members of the duck family Anatidae, and are amongst the largest flying birds. The largest species, including the mute swan, trumpeter swan, and whooper swan, can reach length of over 1.5 m (60 inches) and weigh over 15 kg (33 pounds). Their wingspans can be almost 3 m (10 ft). Compared to the closely related geese they are much larger in size and have proportionally larger feet and necks.[2] They also have a patch of unfeathered skin between the eyes and bill in adults. The sexes are alike in plumage, but males are generally bigger and heavier than females.

Swan preening itselfThe Northern Hemisphere species of swan have pure white plumage but the Southern Hemisphere species are mixed black and white. The Australian Black Swan (Cygnus atratus) is completely black except for the white flight feathers on its wings; the chicks of black swans are light grey in colour, and the South American Black-necked Swan has a black neck.

The legs of swans are normally a dark blackish grey colour, except for the two South American species, which have pink legs. Bill colour varies: the four subarctic species have black bills with varying amounts of yellow, and all the others are patterned red and black, although most birds generally do not have teeth, swans are known to be an exception to this having small jagged 'teeth' as part of their beaks used for catching and eating fish. The Mute Swan and Black-necked Swan have a lump at the base of the bill on the upper mandible.Swans feed in the water and on land. They are almost entirely herbivorous, although small numbers of aquatic animals may be eaten. In the water food is obtained by up-ending or dabbling, and their diet is composed of the roots, tubers, stems and leaves of aquatic and submerged plants.[2]

A feeding Mute Swan in ice-covered pool, HanoverSwans form monogamous pair bonds that last for many years, and in some cases these can last for life.[4] Modern genetic techniques are starting to reveal that 'divorces' are more common than previously thought, as is mating with other swans outside of the social pairing, without breaking the social pair bond.[5] These bonds are maintained year round, even in gregarious and migratory species like the Tundra Swan, which congregate in large flocks in the wintering grounds.[6] The nest is on the ground near water and about a metre across. Unlike many other ducks and geese the male helps with the nest construction. Average egg size (for the mute swan) is 113×74 mm, weighing 340 g, in a clutch size of 4 to 7, and an incubation period of 34–45 days.[7] With the exception of the dendrocygninaes they are the only anatids where the males aid in incubating the eggs.

Mute swans have been observed to display homosexual or transgender behavior.

Swans, genus Cygnus, are birds of the family Anatidae, which also includes geese and ducks. Swans are grouped with the closely related geese in the subfamily Anserinae where they form the tribe Cygnini. Sometimes, they are considered a distinct subfamily, Cygninae. There are six to seven species of swan in the genus Cygnus; in addition there is another species known as a swan, the Coscoroba Swan, although this species is no longer considered related to the true swans. Swans usually mate for life, though 'divorce' does sometimes occur, particularly following nesting failure. The number of eggs in each clutch ranges from three to eight.The swans are the largest members of the duck family Anatidae, and are amongst the largest flying birds. The largest species, including the mute swan, trumpeter swan, and whooper swan, can reach length of over 1.5 m (60 inches) and weigh over 15 kg (33 pounds). Their wingspans can be almost 3 m (10 ft). Compared to the closely related geese they are much larger in size and have proportionally larger feet and necks.[2] They also have a patch of unfeathered skin between the eyes and bill in adults. The sexes are alike in plumage, but males are generally bigger and heavier than females.

Swan preening itselfThe Northern Hemisphere species of swan have pure white plumage but the Southern Hemisphere species are mixed black and white. The Australian Black Swan (Cygnus atratus) is completely black except for the white flight feathers on its wings; the chicks of black swans are light grey in colour, and the South American Black-necked Swan has a black neck.

The legs of swans are normally a dark blackish grey colour, except for the two South American species, which have pink legs. Bill colour varies: the four subarctic species have black bills with varying amounts of yellow, and all the others are patterned red and black, although most birds generally do not have teeth, swans are known to be an exception to this having small jagged 'teeth' as part of their beaks used for catching and eating fish. The Mute Swan and Black-necked Swan have a lump at the base of the bill on the upper mandible.Swans feed in the water and on land. They are almost entirely herbivorous, although small numbers of aquatic animals may be eaten. In the water food is obtained by up-ending or dabbling, and their diet is composed of the roots, tubers, stems and leaves of aquatic and submerged plants.[2]

A feeding Mute Swan in ice-covered pool, HanoverSwans form monogamous pair bonds that last for many years, and in some cases these can last for life.[4] Modern genetic techniques are starting to reveal that 'divorces' are more common than previously thought, as is mating with other swans outside of the social pairing, without breaking the social pair bond.[5] These bonds are maintained year round, even in gregarious and migratory species like the Tundra Swan, which congregate in large flocks in the wintering grounds.[6] The nest is on the ground near water and about a metre across. Unlike many other ducks and geese the male helps with the nest construction. Average egg size (for the mute swan) is 113×74 mm, weighing 340 g, in a clutch size of 4 to 7, and an incubation period of 34–45 days.[7] With the exception of the dendrocygninaes they are the only anatids where the males aid in incubating the eggs.

Mute swans have been observed to display homosexual or transgender behavior.

Swans, genus Cygnus, are birds of the family Anatidae, which also includes geese and ducks. Swans are grouped with the closely related geese in the subfamily Anserinae where they form the tribe Cygnini. Sometimes, they are considered a distinct subfamily, Cygninae. There are six to seven species of swan in the genus Cygnus; in addition there is another species known as a swan, the Coscoroba Swan, although this species is no longer considered related to the true swans. Swans usually mate for life, though 'divorce' does sometimes occur, particularly following nesting failure. The number of eggs in each clutch ranges from three to eight.The swans are the largest members of the duck family Anatidae, and are amongst the largest flying birds. The largest species, including the mute swan, trumpeter swan, and whooper swan, can reach length of over 1.5 m (60 inches) and weigh over 15 kg (33 pounds). Their wingspans can be almost 3 m (10 ft). Compared to the closely related geese they are much larger in size and have proportionally larger feet and necks.[2] They also have a patch of unfeathered skin between the eyes and bill in adults. The sexes are alike in plumage, but males are generally bigger and heavier than females.

Swan preening itselfThe Northern Hemisphere species of swan have pure white plumage but the Southern Hemisphere species are mixed black and white. The Australian Black Swan (Cygnus atratus) is completely black except for the white flight feathers on its wings; the chicks of black swans are light grey in colour, and the South American Black-necked Swan has a black neck.

The legs of swans are normally a dark blackish grey colour, except for the two South American species, which have pink legs. Bill colour varies: the four subarctic species have black bills with varying amounts of yellow, and all the others are patterned red and black, although most birds generally do not have teeth, swans are known to be an exception to this having small jagged 'teeth' as part of their beaks used for catching and eating fish. The Mute Swan and Black-necked Swan have a lump at the base of the bill on the upper mandible.Swans feed in the water and on land. They are almost entirely herbivorous, although small numbers of aquatic animals may be eaten. In the water food is obtained by up-ending or dabbling, and their diet is composed of the roots, tubers, stems and leaves of aquatic and submerged plants.[2]

A feeding Mute Swan in ice-covered pool, HanoverSwans form monogamous pair bonds that last for many years, and in some cases these can last for life.[4] Modern genetic techniques are starting to reveal that 'divorces' are more common than previously thought, as is mating with other swans outside of the social pairing, without breaking the social pair bond.[5] These bonds are maintained year round, even in gregarious and migratory species like the Tundra Swan, which congregate in large flocks in the wintering grounds.[6] The nest is on the ground near water and about a metre across. Unlike many other ducks and geese the male helps with the nest construction. Average egg size (for the mute swan) is 113×74 mm, weighing 340 g, in a clutch size of 4 to 7, and an incubation period of 34–45 days.[7] With the exception of the dendrocygninaes they are the only anatids where the males aid in incubating the eggs.

Mute swans have been observed to display homosexual or transgender behavior.

Swans, genus Cygnus, are birds of the family Anatidae, which also includes geese and ducks. Swans are grouped with the closely related geese in the subfamily Anserinae where they form the tribe Cygnini. Sometimes, they are considered a distinct subfamily, Cygninae. There are six to seven species of swan in the genus Cygnus; in addition there is another species known as a swan, the Coscoroba Swan, although this species is no longer considered related to the true swans. Swans usually mate for life, though 'divorce' does sometimes occur, particularly following nesting failure. The number of eggs in each clutch ranges from three to eight.The swans are the largest members of the duck family Anatidae, and are amongst the largest flying birds. The largest species, including the mute swan, trumpeter swan, and whooper swan, can reach length of over 1.5 m (60 inches) and weigh over 15 kg (33 pounds). Their wingspans can be almost 3 m (10 ft). Compared to the closely related geese they are much larger in size and have proportionally larger feet and necks.[2] They also have a patch of unfeathered skin between the eyes and bill in adults. The sexes are alike in plumage, but males are generally bigger and heavier than females.

Swan preening itselfThe Northern Hemisphere species of swan have pure white plumage but the Southern Hemisphere species are mixed black and white. The Australian Black Swan (Cygnus atratus) is completely black except for the white flight feathers on its wings; the chicks of black swans are light grey in colour, and the South American Black-necked Swan has a black neck.

The legs of swans are normally a dark blackish grey colour, except for the two South American species, which have pink legs. Bill colour varies: the four subarctic species have black bills with varying amounts of yellow, and all the others are patterned red and black, although most birds generally do not have teeth, swans are known to be an exception to this having small jagged 'teeth' as part of their beaks used for catching and eating fish. The Mute Swan and Black-necked Swan have a lump at the base of the bill on the upper mandible.Swans feed in the water and on land. They are almost entirely herbivorous, although small numbers of aquatic animals may be eaten. In the water food is obtained by up-ending or dabbling, and their diet is composed of the roots, tubers, stems and leaves of aquatic and submerged plants.[2]

A feeding Mute Swan in ice-covered pool, HanoverSwans form monogamous pair bonds that last for many years, and in some cases these can last for life.[4] Modern genetic techniques are starting to reveal that 'divorces' are more common than previously thought, as is mating with other swans outside of the social pairing, without breaking the social pair bond.[5] These bonds are maintained year round, even in gregarious and migratory species like the Tundra Swan, which congregate in large flocks in the wintering grounds.[6] The nest is on the ground near water and about a metre across. Unlike many other ducks and geese the male helps with the nest construction. Average egg size (for the mute swan) is 113×74 mm, weighing 340 g, in a clutch size of 4 to 7, and an incubation period of 34–45 days.[7] With the exception of the dendrocygninaes they are the only anatids where the males aid in incubating the eggs.

Mute swans have been observed to display homosexual or transgender behavior.

Swans, genus Cygnus, are birds of the family Anatidae, which also includes geese and ducks. Swans are grouped with the closely related geese in the subfamily Anserinae where they form the tribe Cygnini. Sometimes, they are considered a distinct subfamily, Cygninae. There are six to seven species of swan in the genus Cygnus; in addition there is another species known as a swan, the Coscoroba Swan, although this species is no longer considered related to the true swans. Swans usually mate for life, though 'divorce' does sometimes occur, particularly following nesting failure. The number of eggs in each clutch ranges from three to eight.The swans are the largest members of the duck family Anatidae, and are amongst the largest flying birds. The largest species, including the mute swan, trumpeter swan, and whooper swan, can reach length of over 1.5 m (60 inches) and weigh over 15 kg (33 pounds). Their wingspans can be almost 3 m (10 ft). Compared to the closely related geese they are much larger in size and have proportionally larger feet and necks.[2] They also have a patch of unfeathered skin between the eyes and bill in adults. The sexes are alike in plumage, but males are generally bigger and heavier than females.

Swan preening itselfThe Northern Hemisphere species of swan have pure white plumage but the Southern Hemisphere species are mixed black and white. The Australian Black Swan (Cygnus atratus) is completely black except for the white flight feathers on its wings; the chicks of black swans are light grey in colour, and the South American Black-necked Swan has a black neck.

The legs of swans are normally a dark blackish grey colour, except for the two South American species, which have pink legs. Bill colour varies: the four subarctic species have black bills with varying amounts of yellow, and all the others are patterned red and black, although most birds generally do not have teeth, swans are known to be an exception to this having small jagged 'teeth' as part of their beaks used for catching and eating fish. The Mute Swan and Black-necked Swan have a lump at the base of the bill on the upper mandible.Swans feed in the water and on land. They are almost entirely herbivorous, although small numbers of aquatic animals may be eaten. In the water food is obtained by up-ending or dabbling, and their diet is composed of the roots, tubers, stems and leaves of aquatic and submerged plants.[2]

A feeding Mute Swan in ice-covered pool, HanoverSwans form monogamous pair bonds that last for many years, and in some cases these can last for life.[4] Modern genetic techniques are starting to reveal that 'divorces' are more common than previously thought, as is mating with other swans outside of the social pairing, without breaking the social pair bond.[5] These bonds are maintained year round, even in gregarious and migratory species like the Tundra Swan, which congregate in large flocks in the wintering grounds.[6] The nest is on the ground near water and about a metre across. Unlike many other ducks and geese the male helps with the nest construction. Average egg size (for the mute swan) is 113×74 mm, weighing 340 g, in a clutch size of 4 to 7, and an incubation period of 34–45 days.[7] With the exception of the dendrocygninaes they are the only anatids where the males aid in incubating the eggs.

Mute swans have been observed to display homosexual or transgender behavior.

Swans, genus Cygnus, are birds of the family Anatidae, which also includes geese and ducks. Swans are grouped with the closely related geese in the subfamily Anserinae where they form the tribe Cygnini. Sometimes, they are considered a distinct subfamily, Cygninae. There are six to seven species of swan in the genus Cygnus; in addition there is another species known as a swan, the Coscoroba Swan, although this species is no longer considered related to the true swans. Swans usually mate for life, though 'divorce' does sometimes occur, particularly following nesting failure. The number of eggs in each clutch ranges from three to eight.The swans are the largest members of the duck family Anatidae, and are amongst the largest flying birds. The largest species, including the mute swan, trumpeter swan, and whooper swan, can reach length of over 1.5 m (60 inches) and weigh over 15 kg (33 pounds). Their wingspans can be almost 3 m (10 ft). Compared to the closely related geese they are much larger in size and have proportionally larger feet and necks.[2] They also have a patch of unfeathered skin between the eyes and bill in adults. The sexes are alike in plumage, but males are generally bigger and heavier than females.

Swan preening itselfThe Northern Hemisphere species of swan have pure white plumage but the Southern Hemisphere species are mixed black and white. The Australian Black Swan (Cygnus atratus) is completely black except for the white flight feathers on its wings; the chicks of black swans are light grey in colour, and the South American Black-necked Swan has a black neck.

The legs of swans are normally a dark blackish grey colour, except for the two South American species, which have pink legs. Bill colour varies: the four subarctic species have black bills with varying amounts of yellow, and all the others are patterned red and black, although most birds generally do not have teeth, swans are known to be an exception to this having small jagged 'teeth' as part of their beaks used for catching and eating fish. The Mute Swan and Black-necked Swan have a lump at the base of the bill on the upper mandible.Swans feed in the water and on land. They are almost entirely herbivorous, although small numbers of aquatic animals may be eaten. In the water food is obtained by up-ending or dabbling, and their diet is composed of the roots, tubers, stems and leaves of aquatic and submerged plants.[2]

A feeding Mute Swan in ice-covered pool, HanoverSwans form monogamous pair bonds that last for many years, and in some cases these can last for life.[4] Modern genetic techniques are starting to reveal that 'divorces' are more common than previously thought, as is mating with other swans outside of the social pairing, without breaking the social pair bond.[5] These bonds are maintained year round, even in gregarious and migratory species like the Tundra Swan, which congregate in large flocks in the wintering grounds.[6] The nest is on the ground near water and about a metre across. Unlike many other ducks and geese the male helps with the nest construction. Average egg size (for the mute swan) is 113×74 mm, weighing 340 g, in a clutch size of 4 to 7, and an incubation period of 34–45 days.[7] With the exception of the dendrocygninaes they are the only anatids where the males aid in incubating the eggs.

Mute swans have been observed to display homosexual or transgender behavior.

Swans, genus Cygnus, are birds of the family Anatidae, which also includes geese and ducks. Swans are grouped with the closely related geese in the subfamily Anserinae where they form the tribe Cygnini. Sometimes, they are considered a distinct subfamily, Cygninae. There are six to seven species of swan in the genus Cygnus; in addition there is another species known as a swan, the Coscoroba Swan, although this species is no longer considered related to the true swans. Swans usually mate for life, though 'divorce' does sometimes occur, particularly following nesting failure. The number of eggs in each clutch ranges from three to eight.The swans are the largest members of the duck family Anatidae, and are amongst the largest flying birds. The largest species, including the mute swan, trumpeter swan, and whooper swan, can reach length of over 1.5 m (60 inches) and weigh over 15 kg (33 pounds). Their wingspans can be almost 3 m (10 ft). Compared to the closely related geese they are much larger in size and have proportionally larger feet and necks.[2] They also have a patch of unfeathered skin between the eyes and bill in adults. The sexes are alike in plumage, but males are generally bigger and heavier than females.

Swan preening itselfThe Northern Hemisphere species of swan have pure white plumage but the Southern Hemisphere species are mixed black and white. The Australian Black Swan (Cygnus atratus) is completely black except for the white flight feathers on its wings; the chicks of black swans are light grey in colour, and the South American Black-necked Swan has a black neck.

The legs of swans are normally a dark blackish grey colour, except for the two South American species, which have pink legs. Bill colour varies: the four subarctic species have black bills with varying amounts of yellow, and all the others are patterned red and black, although most birds generally do not have teeth, swans are known to be an exception to this having small jagged 'teeth' as part of their beaks used for catching and eating fish. The Mute Swan and Black-necked Swan have a lump at the base of the bill on the upper mandible.Swans feed in the water and on land. They are almost entirely herbivorous, although small numbers of aquatic animals may be eaten. In the water food is obtained by up-ending or dabbling, and their diet is composed of the roots, tubers, stems and leaves of aquatic and submerged plants.[2]

A feeding Mute Swan in ice-covered pool, HanoverSwans form monogamous pair bonds that last for many years, and in some cases these can last for life.[4] Modern genetic techniques are starting to reveal that 'divorces' are more common than previously thought, as is mating with other swans outside of the social pairing, without breaking the social pair bond.[5] These bonds are maintained year round, even in gregarious and migratory species like the Tundra Swan, which congregate in large flocks in the wintering grounds.[6] The nest is on the ground near water and about a metre across. Unlike many other ducks and geese the male helps with the nest construction. Average egg size (for the mute swan) is 113×74 mm, weighing 340 g, in a clutch size of 4 to 7, and an incubation period of 34–45 days.[7] With the exception of the dendrocygninaes they are the only anatids where the males aid in incubating the eggs.

Mute swans have been observed to display homosexual or transgender behavior.

Swans, genus Cygnus, are birds of the family Anatidae, which also includes geese and ducks. Swans are grouped with the closely related geese in the subfamily Anserinae where they form the tribe Cygnini. Sometimes, they are considered a distinct subfamily, Cygninae. There are six to seven species of swan in the genus Cygnus; in addition there is another species known as a swan, the Coscoroba Swan, although this species is no longer considered related to the true swans. Swans usually mate for life, though 'divorce' does sometimes occur, particularly following nesting failure. The number of eggs in each clutch ranges from three to eight.The swans are the largest members of the duck family Anatidae, and are amongst the largest flying birds. The largest species, including the mute swan, trumpeter swan, and whooper swan, can reach length of over 1.5 m (60 inches) and weigh over 15 kg (33 pounds). Their wingspans can be almost 3 m (10 ft). Compared to the closely related geese they are much larger in size and have proportionally larger feet and necks.[2] They also have a patch of unfeathered skin between the eyes and bill in adults. The sexes are alike in plumage, but males are generally bigger and heavier than females.

Swan preening itselfThe Northern Hemisphere species of swan have pure white plumage but the Southern Hemisphere species are mixed black and white. The Australian Black Swan (Cygnus atratus) is completely black except for the white flight feathers on its wings; the chicks of black swans are light grey in colour, and the South American Black-necked Swan has a black neck.

The legs of swans are normally a dark blackish grey colour, except for the two South American species, which have pink legs. Bill colour varies: the four subarctic species have black bills with varying amounts of yellow, and all the others are patterned red and black, although most birds generally do not have teeth, swans are known to be an exception to this having small jagged 'teeth' as part of their beaks used for catching and eating fish. The Mute Swan and Black-necked Swan have a lump at the base of the bill on the upper mandible.Swans feed in the water and on land. They are almost entirely herbivorous, although small numbers of aquatic animals may be eaten. In the water food is obtained by up-ending or dabbling, and their diet is composed of the roots, tubers, stems and leaves of aquatic and submerged plants.[2]

A feeding Mute Swan in ice-covered pool, HanoverSwans form monogamous pair bonds that last for many years, and in some cases these can last for life.[4] Modern genetic techniques are starting to reveal that 'divorces' are more common than previously thought, as is mating with other swans outside of the social pairing, without breaking the social pair bond.[5] These bonds are maintained year round, even in gregarious and migratory species like the Tundra Swan, which congregate in large flocks in the wintering grounds.[6] The nest is on the ground near water and about a metre across. Unlike many other ducks and geese the male helps with the nest construction. Average egg size (for the mute swan) is 113×74 mm, weighing 340 g, in a clutch size of 4 to 7, and an incubation period of 34–45 days.[7] With the exception of the dendrocygninaes they are the only anatids where the males aid in incubating the eggs.

Mute swans have been observed to display homosexual or transgender behavior.

Swans, genus Cygnus, are birds of the family Anatidae, which also includes geese and ducks. Swans are grouped with the closely related geese in the subfamily Anserinae where they form the tribe Cygnini. Sometimes, they are considered a distinct subfamily, Cygninae. There are six to seven species of swan in the genus Cygnus; in addition there is another species known as a swan, the Coscoroba Swan, although this species is no longer considered related to the true swans. Swans usually mate for life, though 'divorce' does sometimes occur, particularly following nesting failure. The number of eggs in each clutch ranges from three to eight.The swans are the largest members of the duck family Anatidae, and are amongst the largest flying birds. The largest species, including the mute swan, trumpeter swan, and whooper swan, can reach length of over 1.5 m (60 inches) and weigh over 15 kg (33 pounds). Their wingspans can be almost 3 m (10 ft). Compared to the closely related geese they are much larger in size and have proportionally larger feet and necks.[2] They also have a patch of unfeathered skin between the eyes and bill in adults. The sexes are alike in plumage, but males are generally bigger and heavier than females.

Swan preening itselfThe Northern Hemisphere species of swan have pure white plumage but the Southern Hemisphere species are mixed black and white. The Australian Black Swan (Cygnus atratus) is completely black except for the white flight feathers on its wings; the chicks of black swans are light grey in colour, and the South American Black-necked Swan has a black neck.

The legs of swans are normally a dark blackish grey colour, except for the two South American species, which have pink legs. Bill colour varies: the four subarctic species have black bills with varying amounts of yellow, and all the others are patterned red and black, although most birds generally do not have teeth, swans are known to be an exception to this having small jagged 'teeth' as part of their beaks used for catching and eating fish. The Mute Swan and Black-necked Swan have a lump at the base of the bill on the upper mandible.Swans feed in the water and on land. They are almost entirely herbivorous, although small numbers of aquatic animals may be eaten. In the water food is obtained by up-ending or dabbling, and their diet is composed of the roots, tubers, stems and leaves of aquatic and submerged plants.[2]

A feeding Mute Swan in ice-covered pool, HanoverSwans form monogamous pair bonds that last for many years, and in some cases these can last for life.[4] Modern genetic techniques are starting to reveal that 'divorces' are more common than previously thought, as is mating with other swans outside of the social pairing, without breaking the social pair bond.[5] These bonds are maintained year round, even in gregarious and migratory species like the Tundra Swan, which congregate in large flocks in the wintering grounds.[6] The nest is on the ground near water and about a metre across. Unlike many other ducks and geese the male helps with the nest construction. Average egg size (for the mute swan) is 113×74 mm, weighing 340 g, in a clutch size of 4 to 7, and an incubation period of 34–45 days.[7] With the exception of the dendrocygninaes they are the only anatids where the males aid in incubating the eggs.

Mute swans have been observed to display homosexual or transgender behavior.

Swans, genus Cygnus, are birds of the family Anatidae, which also includes geese and ducks. Swans are grouped with the closely related geese in the subfamily Anserinae where they form the tribe Cygnini. Sometimes, they are considered a distinct subfamily, Cygninae. There are six to seven species of swan in the genus Cygnus; in addition there is another species known as a swan, the Coscoroba Swan, although this species is no longer considered related to the true swans. Swans usually mate for life, though 'divorce' does sometimes occur, particularly following nesting failure. The number of eggs in each clutch ranges from three to eight.The swans are the largest members of the duck family Anatidae, and are amongst the largest flying birds. The largest species, including the mute swan, trumpeter swan, and whooper swan, can reach length of over 1.5 m (60 inches) and weigh over 15 kg (33 pounds). Their wingspans can be almost 3 m (10 ft). Compared to the closely related geese they are much larger in size and have proportionally larger feet and necks.[2] They also have a patch of unfeathered skin between the eyes and bill in adults. The sexes are alike in plumage, but males are generally bigger and heavier than females.

Swan preening itselfThe Northern Hemisphere species of swan have pure white plumage but the Southern Hemisphere species are mixed black and white. The Australian Black Swan (Cygnus atratus) is completely black except for the white flight feathers on its wings; the chicks of black swans are light grey in colour, and the South American Black-necked Swan has a black neck.

The legs of swans are normally a dark blackish grey colour, except for the two South American species, which have pink legs. Bill colour varies: the four subarctic species have black bills with varying amounts of yellow, and all the others are patterned red and black, although most birds generally do not have teeth, swans are known to be an exception to this having small jagged 'teeth' as part of their beaks used for catching and eating fish. The Mute Swan and Black-necked Swan have a lump at the base of the bill on the upper mandible.Swans feed in the water and on land. They are almost entirely herbivorous, although small numbers of aquatic animals may be eaten. In the water food is obtained by up-ending or dabbling, and their diet is composed of the roots, tubers, stems and leaves of aquatic and submerged plants.[2]

A feeding Mute Swan in ice-covered pool, HanoverSwans form monogamous pair bonds that last for many years, and in some cases these can last for life.[4] Modern genetic techniques are starting to reveal that 'divorces' are more common than previously thought, as is mating with other swans outside of the social pairing, without breaking the social pair bond.[5] These bonds are maintained year round, even in gregarious and migratory species like the Tundra Swan, which congregate in large flocks in the wintering grounds.[6] The nest is on the ground near water and about a metre across. Unlike many other ducks and geese the male helps with the nest construction. Average egg size (for the mute swan) is 113×74 mm, weighing 340 g, in a clutch size of 4 to 7, and an incubation period of 34–45 days.[7] With the exception of the dendrocygninaes they are the only anatids where the males aid in incubating the eggs.

Mute swans have been observed to display homosexual or transgender behavior.

Swans, genus Cygnus, are birds of the family Anatidae, which also includes geese and ducks. Swans are grouped with the closely related geese in the subfamily Anserinae where they form the tribe Cygnini. Sometimes, they are considered a distinct subfamily, Cygninae. There are six to seven species of swan in the genus Cygnus; in addition there is another species known as a swan, the Coscoroba Swan, although this species is no longer considered related to the true swans. Swans usually mate for life, though 'divorce' does sometimes occur, particularly following nesting failure. The number of eggs in each clutch ranges from three to eight.The swans are the largest members of the duck family Anatidae, and are amongst the largest flying birds. The largest species, including the mute swan, trumpeter swan, and whooper swan, can reach length of over 1.5 m (60 inches) and weigh over 15 kg (33 pounds). Their wingspans can be almost 3 m (10 ft). Compared to the closely related geese they are much larger in size and have proportionally larger feet and necks.[2] They also have a patch of unfeathered skin between the eyes and bill in adults. The sexes are alike in plumage, but males are generally bigger and heavier than females.

Swan preening itselfThe Northern Hemisphere species of swan have pure white plumage but the Southern Hemisphere species are mixed black and white. The Australian Black Swan (Cygnus atratus) is completely black except for the white flight feathers on its wings; the chicks of black swans are light grey in colour, and the South American Black-necked Swan has a black neck.

The legs of swans are normally a dark blackish grey colour, except for the two South American species, which have pink legs. Bill colour varies: the four subarctic species have black bills with varying amounts of yellow, and all the others are patterned red and black, although most birds generally do not have teeth, swans are known to be an exception to this having small jagged 'teeth' as part of their beaks used for catching and eating fish. The Mute Swan and Black-necked Swan have a lump at the base of the bill on the upper mandible.Swans feed in the water and on land. They are almost entirely herbivorous, although small numbers of aquatic animals may be eaten. In the water food is obtained by up-ending or dabbling, and their diet is composed of the roots, tubers, stems and leaves of aquatic and submerged plants.[2]

A feeding Mute Swan in ice-covered pool, HanoverSwans form monogamous pair bonds that last for many years, and in some cases these can last for life.[4] Modern genetic techniques are starting to reveal that 'divorces' are more common than previously thought, as is mating with other swans outside of the social pairing, without breaking the social pair bond.[5] These bonds are maintained year round, even in gregarious and migratory species like the Tundra Swan, which congregate in large flocks in the wintering grounds.[6] The nest is on the ground near water and about a metre across. Unlike many other ducks and geese the male helps with the nest construction. Average egg size (for the mute swan) is 113×74 mm, weighing 340 g, in a clutch size of 4 to 7, and an incubation period of 34–45 days.[7] With the exception of the dendrocygninaes they are the only anatids where the males aid in incubating the eggs.

Mute swans have been observed to display homosexual or transgender behavior.

Swans, genus Cygnus, are birds of the family Anatidae, which also includes geese and ducks. Swans are grouped with the closely related geese in the subfamily Anserinae where they form the tribe Cygnini. Sometimes, they are considered a distinct subfamily, Cygninae. There are six to seven species of swan in the genus Cygnus; in addition there is another species known as a swan, the Coscoroba Swan, although this species is no longer considered related to the true swans. Swans usually mate for life, though 'divorce' does sometimes occur, particularly following nesting failure. The number of eggs in each clutch ranges from three to eight.The swans are the largest members of the duck family Anatidae, and are amongst the largest flying birds. The largest species, including the mute swan, trumpeter swan, and whooper swan, can reach length of over 1.5 m (60 inches) and weigh over 15 kg (33 pounds). Their wingspans can be almost 3 m (10 ft). Compared to the closely related geese they are much larger in size and have proportionally larger feet and necks.[2] They also have a patch of unfeathered skin between the eyes and bill in adults. The sexes are alike in plumage, but males are generally bigger and heavier than females.

Swan preening itselfThe Northern Hemisphere species of swan have pure white plumage but the Southern Hemisphere species are mixed black and white. The Australian Black Swan (Cygnus atratus) is completely black except for the white flight feathers on its wings; the chicks of black swans are light grey in colour, and the South American Black-necked Swan has a black neck.

The legs of swans are normally a dark blackish grey colour, except for the two South American species, which have pink legs. Bill colour varies: the four subarctic species have black bills with varying amounts of yellow, and all the others are patterned red and black, although most birds generally do not have teeth, swans are known to be an exception to this having small jagged 'teeth' as part of their beaks used for catching and eating fish. The Mute Swan and Black-necked Swan have a lump at the base of the bill on the upper mandible.Swans feed in the water and on land. They are almost entirely herbivorous, although small numbers of aquatic animals may be eaten. In the water food is obtained by up-ending or dabbling, and their diet is composed of the roots, tubers, stems and leaves of aquatic and submerged plants.[2]

A feeding Mute Swan in ice-covered pool, HanoverSwans form monogamous pair bonds that last for many years, and in some cases these can last for life.[4] Modern genetic techniques are starting to reveal that 'divorces' are more common than previously thought, as is mating with other swans outside of the social pairing, without breaking the social pair bond.[5] These bonds are maintained year round, even in gregarious and migratory species like the Tundra Swan, which congregate in large flocks in the wintering grounds.[6] The nest is on the ground near water and about a metre across. Unlike many other ducks and geese the male helps with the nest construction. Average egg size (for the mute swan) is 113×74 mm, weighing 340 g, in a clutch size of 4 to 7, and an incubation period of 34–45 days.[7] With the exception of the dendrocygninaes they are the only anatids where the males aid in incubating the eggs.

Mute swans have been observed to display homosexual or transgender behavior.

Swans, genus Cygnus, are birds of the family Anatidae, which also includes geese and ducks. Swans are grouped with the closely related geese in the subfamily Anserinae where they form the tribe Cygnini. Sometimes, they are considered a distinct subfamily, Cygninae. There are six to seven species of swan in the genus Cygnus; in addition there is another species known as a swan, the Coscoroba Swan, although this species is no longer considered related to the true swans. Swans usually mate for life, though 'divorce' does sometimes occur, particularly following nesting failure. The number of eggs in each clutch ranges from three to eight.The swans are the largest members of the duck family Anatidae, and are amongst the largest flying birds. The largest species, including the mute swan, trumpeter swan, and whooper swan, can reach length of over 1.5 m (60 inches) and weigh over 15 kg (33 pounds). Their wingspans can be almost 3 m (10 ft). Compared to the closely related geese they are much larger in size and have proportionally larger feet and necks.[2] They also have a patch of unfeathered skin between the eyes and bill in adults. The sexes are alike in plumage, but males are generally bigger and heavier than females.

Swan preening itselfThe Northern Hemisphere species of swan have pure white plumage but the Southern Hemisphere species are mixed black and white. The Australian Black Swan (Cygnus atratus) is completely black except for the white flight feathers on its wings; the chicks of black swans are light grey in colour, and the South American Black-necked Swan has a black neck.

The legs of swans are normally a dark blackish grey colour, except for the two South American species, which have pink legs. Bill colour varies: the four subarctic species have black bills with varying amounts of yellow, and all the others are patterned red and black, although most birds generally do not have teeth, swans are known to be an exception to this having small jagged 'teeth' as part of their beaks used for catching and eating fish. The Mute Swan and Black-necked Swan have a lump at the base of the bill on the upper mandible.Swans feed in the water and on land. They are almost entirely herbivorous, although small numbers of aquatic animals may be eaten. In the water food is obtained by up-ending or dabbling, and their diet is composed of the roots, tubers, stems and leaves of aquatic and submerged plants.[2]

A feeding Mute Swan in ice-covered pool, HanoverSwans form monogamous pair bonds that last for many years, and in some cases these can last for life.[4] Modern genetic techniques are starting to reveal that 'divorces' are more common than previously thought, as is mating with other swans outside of the social pairing, without breaking the social pair bond.[5] These bonds are maintained year round, even in gregarious and migratory species like the Tundra Swan, which congregate in large flocks in the wintering grounds.[6] The nest is on the ground near water and about a metre across. Unlike many other ducks and geese the male helps with the nest construction. Average egg size (for the mute swan) is 113×74 mm, weighing 340 g, in a clutch size of 4 to 7, and an incubation period of 34–45 days.[7] With the exception of the dendrocygninaes they are the only anatids where the males aid in incubating the eggs.

Mute swans have been observed to display homosexual or transgender behavior.

Swans, genus Cygnus, are birds of the family Anatidae, which also includes geese and ducks. Swans are grouped with the closely related geese in the subfamily Anserinae where they form the tribe Cygnini. Sometimes, they are considered a distinct subfamily, Cygninae. There are six to seven species of swan in the genus Cygnus; in addition there is another species known as a swan, the Coscoroba Swan, although this species is no longer considered related to the true swans. Swans usually mate for life, though 'divorce' does sometimes occur, particularly following nesting failure. The number of eggs in each clutch ranges from three to eight.The swans are the largest members of the duck family Anatidae, and are amongst the largest flying birds. The largest species, including the mute swan, trumpeter swan, and whooper swan, can reach length of over 1.5 m (60 inches) and weigh over 15 kg (33 pounds). Their wingspans can be almost 3 m (10 ft). Compared to the closely related geese they are much larger in size and have proportionally larger feet and necks.[2] They also have a patch of unfeathered skin between the eyes and bill in adults. The sexes are alike in plumage, but males are generally bigger and heavier than females.

Swan preening itselfThe Northern Hemisphere species of swan have pure white plumage but the Southern Hemisphere species are mixed black and white. The Australian Black Swan (Cygnus atratus) is completely black except for the white flight feathers on its wings; the chicks of black swans are light grey in colour, and the South American Black-necked Swan has a black neck.

The legs of swans are normally a dark blackish grey colour, except for the two South American species, which have pink legs. Bill colour varies: the four subarctic species have black bills with varying amounts of yellow, and all the others are patterned red and black, although most birds generally do not have teeth, swans are known to be an exception to this having small jagged 'teeth' as part of their beaks used for catching and eating fish. The Mute Swan and Black-necked Swan have a lump at the base of the bill on the upper mandible.Swans feed in the water and on land. They are almost entirely herbivorous, although small numbers of aquatic animals may be eaten. In the water food is obtained by up-ending or dabbling, and their diet is composed of the roots, tubers, stems and leaves of aquatic and submerged plants.[2]

A feeding Mute Swan in ice-covered pool, HanoverSwans form monogamous pair bonds that last for many years, and in some cases these can last for life.[4] Modern genetic techniques are starting to reveal that 'divorces' are more common than previously thought, as is mating with other swans outside of the social pairing, without breaking the social pair bond.[5] These bonds are maintained year round, even in gregarious and migratory species like the Tundra Swan, which congregate in large flocks in the wintering grounds.[6] The nest is on the ground near water and about a metre across. Unlike many other ducks and geese the male helps with the nest construction. Average egg size (for the mute swan) is 113×74 mm, weighing 340 g, in a clutch size of 4 to 7, and an incubation period of 34–45 days.[7] With the exception of the dendrocygninaes they are the only anatids where the males aid in incubating the eggs.

Mute swans have been observed to display homosexual or transgender behavior.

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' invites you to a-------+ ~ JN nd Ashok Bajpat.not~d poet and critic .

WhoIs afraid ofhistory? Prof. Parul Dave Mukherjee .

Doan, Schoolof Arts ondAesthetlcs(SAA) .

o is afraid of art ? .

o is af~raid of M.F.Husairw7 Anand Pradhan IIMC .

Forms OfCreative Expression, Cultural .

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Plurality and the Politics ofCensorship .

In a blow against the moral brigade of the fascist forces, the apex court on Monday termed M .

F Husain's painting 'Bharat 1\nata' a "wotk of art", and refused to entertain a petition seeking .

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Initiation of proceedings against. the artist for hurting the sentiments ofIndians. .

Since 1990, an increasingly violent right~wing has stalled Husain's exhibitions all over the world and has .

on more than one occasion vandalized his property and damaged his work. The reason for this: his .

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alleged portrayal of Hindu deities in the nude.Fearing for his life, in 2006, the ninety seven year old artist .

had to leave India. .

Husain's crime is not that he lacks the understanding of 'Indian Culture' or is disrespectful to the Hindu .

sentiments. He uses subjects and styles that have been used to represent Hindu gods and goddesses .

since ancient times. His crime is that he is a Mu~lim artist with deep love and awarerless of .

politics to seize power has become a norm. It is also Interesting that all three of his controversial .

Hindu art traditions, at a time in Indian politics, when communal mobilization and vote bank .

paintings have depicted female deities-for the self-appointed guardians of morality like the VHP, no .

subject could be more emotive than the body of a·woman coming to represent a community. .

Let us remember the acts and crimes of these so-called defenders of the 'Indian tradition'. Last year, it .

College using the rrught ofthe state and th{.; university administration,involving vandalisation ofart works .

thesame brigade which unleashed a prolonged assault on the students and faculty ofthe Vadodara Arts .

as well as physice~l violence. In February of this year. they ransacked the DU History Department and .

attacked faculty and students protesting against the inclus1on ofA.K. Ramanujan's article "Three Hundred .

Ramayanas: Five Examples and Three Thoughts on Translation" in the history curriculum. In 2004,taking .

offense to certain remarks about the Maratha leader SivaJi made in a book by the historian James .

Laine, a group calling itselfthe Sambhaji Brigade. ransacked the Bhandarkar Oriental Library in Pune, .

destroying invaluable books and manuscripts. Such is the regard for history that these self-proclaimed .

'custodians of Indian culture' have exhibited! Nor have we forgotten Murll Manohar ~Joshi's attempts at .

introducing divisive, obscurantist "subjects" like Astrology, Paurohitya and Karmakand, peddling them .

as serious academic disciplines of the 21st century! Their own 'history' is a record marked by xenophobia, refusal to participate in the national movement. caste atrocity, and a defense of ,..

the patriarchal subjugation ofwomen. Their atten1pt in each case has been to hold and control the .

t. .

Although the Courts have exonerated Husain of all charges~ we have to ask ourselves, if it is actuallyvibrant traditions of Indian history and use thern to their fascist ends.--"'-.

safe for himto return to his home country with VHP S\Nearing on its website that it will not let him do so. Ig... .

.

recent times what we have seen is a widespread attack on the freedom of expression, where .

.

political groups can effect 'mob censorship' in total violation of all democratic norms and .

.

procedures. What is even more condernnable is the manner in which the Institutions and bodies of the .

.

juncture, it becomes all the more important to stand united against the fascist brigade and to apeak out .

.

Indian state willingly bow down to the dictates of fundamentalist forces and agendas.At the present .

.

In support ofthose who stand for creative plurality and cultural exptesslon. We appeal to you toJp.lhn .

.

the Public meeting organized by JNUSU and the Fine Arts Club, tonight, at9.30 p.m. at ~!r&..r .

.

mess. PaHavi.

, _ Shepha~ .

ffiii.,».JI.r.esident., JNU&U .

.

.

AKHIL BHARATIYA VIDYARTHI PARISHAD .

31/1012004.

SAFFRON IS RAMPANT! .

"But the Independence ofHindustan does and must inevitably imply in itselfthe unityandIntegrity ofIt This unity ofHindustan, our Motherland and Holy Land from the Indus to the seas, had been through a thousand generations ofourpeople, the vision ofourseers, the theme ofourpoets ... and the battle cry ofour warriors -till at last It got identified with the oneness oftiJe National Being itself." (V.D. Savarkar, .

The 10th May: The Independence Day of Hindustan', leaflet, 1945) .

Friends, .

.onyto.

This statement, showing Savarkar's opposition to Partition and his commitment to 'A~hand B~arat', sta~ds t~stimthe hollowness of Marxist propaganda a1med at malignrng him and blaming him for Part1t1on. Netther Marx1st d.tstort1on of .

history, nor their boot licking of Sonia Gandhi's Congress, can conceal the fact that the C~l was.. apart from the Muslim League, .

the only national party which openly supported Partition. So far as our stand on campus 1ssues 1s concerned, the SFI-AISFare We understa_nd th_at they.

still silent on our demand for display of M.Phil. written examination and interview mar~s. .

,'lave many skeletons in their cupboard, which they fear may start rolling down ifacadem1c transpare':JCY IS achJ.eved. .

.

Before gotng rnto the nitty-gritty of electoral polittcs in JNU, whtch, incidentally, seems to be respondJ.ng energe~tcally to the ABVP-campa1gn. one should like to quote the Mahatma; writing in Young India, the publication he had edtted for qu1~e so_me .

time, on 6th October, 1921, Gandhiji had stated clearly. 'Cow-protection is the gift ofHinduism to the world. And Hmdwsm will live so long as there are Hindus to protect the cow.' It is interesting to note that the person sought to be .

misappropriated, nowadays with disturbingly-hetghtened frequency, by the shrewd Communists, was not averse to identifying .

lndtc' way of life. Thus, far from differing from the RSS on questions ofhimself firmly w1th the supreme icons of the '.

fundamental, national interest, e g. the removal of untouchability, the integration of our national life, the identification and celebration of nationally-relevant hentage, Bapu was not at odds with the denizens of Hindutva, and the so-called Extremist nationalists like Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai, Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, etc. Hence, it is rather disturbing to note .

the shameless extent of Leftist skullduggery, which stops short of no mendactty in tts attempt to corner the national ideological space; but, it is grattfying to note, is confined to unfurling its pseudo-revolutionary buntings in the spacious lawns of elitist South Delhi. Lefttsts, at least, those of the self-styled variety, seem to share this zany class-character universally, more so in JNU than elsewhere; which ts why it ts so very tmportant to throw them out of this potentially-dynamic campus, and liberate what could have been India's Harvard from the dungeons of stale dogma. However, before we can get gomg with this noble task of mobil1smg the campus, it rs necessary to review the precise parameters of the ideology dear to our hearts and souls-the .

the Way of the Saffron Pennant', which is better known to all of us as Hindutva. the destiny of'Bhagava Dhvajah Patha', or '.

India Equitable Treatment of All Creeds', and the working ideology of.

C?ur baste 1dea is 'Sarva Dharma Samabht:w a', or the '.

Htndu Nat10nalrsm ts the realisation, identiftcation, celebration and triumphal march of this very pacific and egalitarian ideology, wh1ch has .bee~ hailed as 'the Light ofthe Civilised World' by many an occidental and 'oriental' scholar and sage. However, true ... to the rarr.1ficattons of a socto-political situation that is dominated by shallow-minded and vacuous-hearted hypocrites, this very .

gentle ·way of l1fe is under sieg~ fr?m all.sides, and, 'Oeo volente', the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, under the aegis,of t~e Samgha Panvar, Will defend 1t With all rts physical, mental, spiritual, intellectual moral and ethical might. Following what SrT h.r~na s~ys m the Bhagavat Gila about his taktng birth on as many occasions as there wtll be a preponderance of evil, the ABVP Wt~l defend the abstract and concrete boundaries of the 'lndic' Weltanschauung, come what may! Not for us is to say that nothmg can be done, and ltke Lady Macbeth, in William Shakespeare s Macbeth we should 'screw our courage to the st1ckmg-place, ~nd [weJ shall not fail.' The emotional attachment shown by the not-so-ordinary karyakarta to the timeless call of .

the Motherland ts a pomter to the fact of the unfading appeal of Hindutva which is the only possible way to reinstate India on .

the W?rld-stage. Under thts awe-inspiring Ideological umbrella, we reaffirm our fatth in the bas1c unity of all humanity, and .

rededicate ourselves to the goal of drawing up the blueprint of a just and egalitarian society which should be able to ensure JUSttce and ldeologtcal punty, for the evolution of a new India. In conclusion, we should ltke to call upon all of you to.

both so~ral.

defeat, tn the JNUSU-Eiect10ns, the forces that seek to degrade the soul of India, chiefly by refusing to accept her pristine .

greatness and strengthen the hands of the ABVP .

CENTRAL PANEL .

DHANANJAY SINGH -PRESIDENT ANKITA BHATTACHARJEE -VICE-PRESIDENT PRITISH KUMAR SAHU -GEN-SECRETARY MANOJ PANT -JOINT-SECRETARY SL SIS sss Special C entre for Sanskrit S tudies .

BHARTI TANWAR ARIJIT RAKSHlT RAJEEV NARAYAN VJKAS SHARMA.

DZHKHA KARUNA SAURABJYOTISARMA RAKESH RANJAN .

NAVNEET RADHAY SHYAM .

PUSP RANJAN VIKAS ANAND .

SATISH VIVEK KUMAR OJHA .

.

-------·-.

VANDE MATARAMI .

Sd/-.

Ran Vijay .

Central Campaign Coordinator .

.

.

.

.

\ .

.

AKHIL BHARATIYA VIDYARTHI PARISHAD .

SAFFRON IS RAMPANT! .

"But the independence ofHindustan does and must inevitably imply in itselfthe unity and integrity of it. This unity ofHindustan, our Motherland and Holy L{lnd from the Indus to the seas, had been th"'rough a thousand generations of our people, the vision of our seers, the theme ofourpoets .. and the battle cry of our ~arriors -till at last it got identified with the oneness of the National Being itself." (V.D. Savarkar, 'The 10 May : The Independence Day of Hindustan', leaflet, 1945) .

Friends, .

This statement. showing Savarkar's opposition to Partition and his commitment to 'Akhand Bharat', stands testimonyto the hollowness of Marxist propaganda a1med at maligning him and blaming him for Part1t1on. Neither Marxist distortion of history, nor their boot licking of Son1a Gandhi's Congress, can conceal the fact that the CPI was. apart from the Muslim League, tha only national party which openly supported Partition. So far as our stand on campus issues is concerned, the SFI-AISF are still silent on our demand for display of M.Phil. written examination and interview marks. We understand that theyhave many skeletons in their cupboard, which they fear may start rolling down if academic transparency is achieved. .

Before g~ing into the nitt~-gritty of electoral politics in ~~U, ~hich, incide.ntally, seems to be respondi.ng energe~ically to the ABVP-campa1gn, one should like to quote the Mahatma; wntmg 1n Young lnd1a, the publication he had ed1ted for qUite some time, on 6th October, 1921, Gandhiji had stated clearly: 'Cow-protection is the gift ofHinduism to the world. And Hinduism will live so long as there are Hindus to protect the cow: It is Interesting to note that the person sought to be misappropriated, nowadays with disturbingly-heightened frequency, by the shrewd Communists, was not averse to identifying himself firmly with the supreme icons of the 'lndic' way of life. Thus, far from differing from the RSS on questions of fundamental, national interest, e.g., the removal of untouchability, the integration of our national life, the identification and celebration of nationally-relevant heritage, Bapu was not at odds with the denizens of Hindutva, and the so-called Extremist nationalists like Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai. Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, etc. Hence, it is rather d'isturbing to note the shameless extent of Leftist skullduggery, which stops short of no mendacity in its attempt to corner the national ideological space; but, it is gratifying to note, is confined to unfurling its pseudo-revolutionary buntmgs in the spacious lawns of elitist South Delhi. Leftists, at least, those of the self-styled variety, seem to share this zany class-character universally, more so in JNU than elsewhere; which is why it is so very important to throw them out of this potentially-dynamic campus, and liberate what could have been India's Harvard from the dungeons of stale dogma. However, before we can get going with this noble task of mobilising the campus, it is necessary to review the precise parameters of the ideology dear to our hearts and souls-the 'Bhagava Dhvajah Patha', or 'the Way of the Saffron Pennant', which is better known to all of us as Hindutva, the destiny of India. .

Our basic idea is 'Sarva Dharma Samabhava', or the 'Equitable Treatment of All Creeds, and the working ideology of Hi~du Nationalism is the realisation, identification. celebration and triumphal march of this very pacific and egalitarian ideology wh1ch has been hailed as 'the Light of the Civilised World' by many an occidental and 'oriental' scholar and sage. However, true to the ramifications of a socio-political situation that is dominated by shallow-minded and vacuous-hearted hypocrites, this very gentle 'way of life' is under siege from all sides; and, 'Deo volente', the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, under the aegis ,of the Sarpgha Parivar. will defend it with all its physical, mental, spiritual, intellectual, moral and ethical might. Following what Sri Kr?(la s~ys in the Bhagavat Gila about his taking birth on as many occasions as there will be a preponderance of evil, the ABVP Will defend the abstract and concrete boundaries of the 'lndic' Weltanschauung, come what may! Not for us is to say th~t ~othing can be done, and. like Lady Macbeth, in William Shakespeare's Macbeth, we should 'screw our courage to the st1ckmg-place, and [we] shall not fail.' The emotional attachment shown by the not-so-ordinary karyakarta to the timeless call of the Motherland is a pointer to the fact of the unfading appeal of Hindutva, which is the only possible way to reinstate India on the W?rld-stage. Under this awe-inspiring ideological umbrella, we reaffirm our faith in the basic unity of all humanity, and reded1ca~e Ur~elves to the goal of drawing up the blueprint of a just and egalitarian society, which should be able to ensure both so~1al JUStice and ideological purity, for the evolution of a new India. In conclusion, we should like to call upon all of you to defeat, In the JNUSU-Eiections, the forces that seek to degrade the soul of India, chiefly by refusing to accept her pristine greatness, and strengthen the hands of the ABVP. .

-.

~ .

CENTRAL PANEL .

DHANANJAY SINGH -PRESIDENT ANKITA BHATIACHARJEE -VICE-PRESIDENT PRITISH KUMAR SAHU -GEN-SECRETARY MANOJPANT -JOINT-SECRETARY .

SL SIS sss Special Centre for ' ' .

'.

Sanskrit.Studies .

I .

BHARTI TANWAR ARIJIT RAKSHIT RAJ.EEV NARAYAN DZHKHA KARUNA SAURABJYOTISARMA RAKESH RANJAN VIKAS SHARMA NAVNEET RADI-IAY SHYAM PUSP RANJAN VIKAS ANAND SATISH VIVEK KUMAR OJHA .

II.

~ 1.

' .

VANDE MATARAM! .

Sd/-.

Ran Vijay Central Campaign Coordinator .

.

.

.

.

.

AKHIL BHARATIYA VIDYARTHI PARISHAD .

.

31/10/2004.

SAFFRON IS RAMPANT! .

.

uBut the independence ofHindustan does and must inevitably imply in itselfthe unity and integrity of it This unity ofHindustan, our Motherland and Holy Land from the Indus to the seas, had been through a tl1ousand generations of our people, the vision of ourseers, the theme ofourpoets ... and the battle cry of our warriors -till at last it got identified with the oneness oftl1e National Being Itself.'' (V.D. Savarkar, 'The 1Oth May : The Independence Day of Hindustan', leaflet, 1945) .

Friends, .

This statement, showing Savarkar's opposit1or' to Part!tion and his ~omm1tmentto 'A~hand B~arat', star:tds t~stim_onyto the hollowness of Marxist propaganda a1med at mahgnmg h1m and blammg h1m for Part1t1on Ne1ther Marx1st d_1stort1on of history, nor their boot licking of Son1a Gandhi's Congress, can conceal the fact that the CPI was, apart from the Muslim League, tha only national party which openly supported Part1t1on So far as our stand on campus 1ssues 1s concerned, the SF/-AJSF are still silent on our demand for display of M.PhJI. written examination and interview marks. We understand that they hcwe many skeletons in their cupboard, which they fear may start rolling down if academic transparency is achieved. .

Before gomg mto the nitty-gritty of electoral politiCS in JNU, which, 1nc1dentally, seems to be responding energetically to the ABVP-campa1gn, one should like to quote the Mahatma; wntmg in Young /ndta the publ1cat1on he had edited for quite some time, on 61h October, 1921, Gandh1ji had stated clearly. ·Cow-protection is the gift of Hinduism to the world. And Hinduism will live so long as there are Hindus to protect the cow.' It Is interestmg to note that the person sought to be misappropriated, nowadays with disturbingly-heightened frequency, by the shrewd Communists, was not averse to identifying .

himself firmly with the supreme icons of the 'lndic' way of life. Thus, far from dlffenng from the RSS on questions of fundamental, national interest, e.g., the removal of untouchability, the integration of our nattonal life, the identification and cel·ebration of nationally-relevant heritage, Bapu was not at odds with the denizens of H1ndutva, and the so-called Extremist nationalists like Bat Gangadhar Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai, Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, etc Hence, it is rather disturbing to note the shameless extent of Leftist skullduggery, which stops short of no mendacity in its attempt to corner the national ideological space; but, it is gratifying to note, is confined to unfurling its pseudo-revolutionary buntings in the spac1ous lawns of elitist South Delhi. Leftists, at least, those of the self-styled vanety, seem to share this zany class-character universally, more so in JNU than elsewhere; wh1ch is why it is so very important to throw them out of this potentially-dynamtc campus, and liberate what could have been India's Harvard from the dungeons of stale dogma. However. before we can get going with this noble task of mobilising the campus, it is necessary to rev1ew the prec1se parameters of the Ideology dear to our hearts and souls-the 'Bhagava Dhvajah Patha', or 'the Way of the Saffron Pennant , which 1s better known to a!l of us as Hindutva, the destiny of .

India Our bas1c idea is 'Sarva Dharma Samabhava', or the 'Equitable Treatment of All Creeds and the working Ideology of Hmdu Nationalism is the realisation, 1dent1f1cation celebration and triumphal march of th1s very pac1fic and egalitanan ideology .

wh1ch has been hailed as 'the Light of the Clvthsed World by many an occidental and onental' scholar and sage. However. true .

to the ramifications of a socio-political situation that is dommated by shaltow-mmded and vacuous-hearted hypocrites. th1s very .

gentle 'way of life' is under siege from all s1des; and 'Oeo volente', the Akhtl Bharat1ya V1dyarth1 Parishad, under the aegts of .

t~e Sarpgha _Panvar, will defend it with all 1ts physical, mental, spiritual, intellectual moral and eth1cal m1ght. Following what Sri .

K.r~~a s~ys 1n the Bhagavat Gila about his taking birth on as many occasions as there will be a preponderance of evil, the .

ABVP Will defend the abstract and concrete boundanes of the 'lndic' Weltanschauung, come what may' Not for us 1s to say .

th~t nothmg can be done, and, like Lady Macbeth, in William Shakespeare's Macbeth we should 'screw our courage to the .

sticking-place, ~nd [weJ shall not fail.' The emotional attachment shown by the not-so-ordinary k(Jryakarta to the timeless call of .

the Motherland IS a pomter to the fact of the unfading appeal of Hindutva, which ts the only possible way to reinstate India on .

the W?rld-stage. Under this awe-inspiring Ideological umbrella, we reaffirm our fa1th in the basic unity of all humanity, and .

reded1ca~e our~elves t~ the g~al of drawing up the blueprint of a just and egal1tanan society, which should be able to ensure .

both so?ral just1ce and Ideological purity, for the evolution of a new India. In conclUsion, we should like to call upon all of you to .

defeat, In the JNUSU-Eiections, the forces that seek to degrade the soul of India, chiefly by refusmg to accept her pristine .

greatness, and strengthen the hands of the ABVP .

.

CENTRAL PANEL .

.

.

DHANANJAY SINGH - PRESIDENT .

ANKITA BHATIACHARJEE - VICE-PRESIDENT .

PRITISH KUMAR SAHU - GEN-SECRETARY .

MANOJPANT - JOINT-SECRETARY .

.

SL .

.

.

Special Centre fo r Sanskrit S t u dies BHARTJ TANWAR .

SIS .

.

sss .

.

ARIJIT RAKSHIT .

.

.

RAJEEV NARAYAN DZHKHA KARUNA .

VIKAS SHARMA.

.

SAURABJYOTISARMA .

.

RAKESH RANJAN NAVNEET .

RADHA Y, SHYAM PUSP RANJAN .

VIKAS ANAND SATISH .

VIVEK KUMAR OJHA .

.

VANDE MATARAMI .

Sd/-.

Ran Vijay .

Central Campaign Coordinator .

.

.

.

.

.

.

The streets of Kathmandu are shaking with the slogan, Gyane Chor, Desh Chhod (Gyanendra thief, leave the country). This vehement demand to abolish the monarchy in Nepal shows the incredible transformation of political consciousness in the country, where the people have travelled from venerating their monarch as the incarnation of Lord Vishnu, to denouncing him as an obstacle to democratic rule. In the Eighteenth Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte, Marx wrote that history repeats itselfthe first time as tragedy, the second time as farce. When Gyanendra butchered his family members in June 2001 to occupy the throne and then conducted a coup on February 1st, 2005, abolishing the parliamentary government, he was re-enacting the coup carried out by his father, King Mahendra, in 1960, which also toppled the parliamentary government of that time. Thus, despite coups and changes in rulers, we see a continuity over the past forty-five years in which the monarchy has continually suppressed or destroyed democratic governments, which it can only see as threats to its power. What remains yet to be seen is whether this new regime will indeed be a farce, or another tragedy. Despite the King Gyanendra and the monarchists attempts to crush any type of opposition through threats and violence, the past year has seen a brave and continual resistance put up by the Nepali people, who have repeatedly come out into the streets to denounce the monarchy and demanded the establishment of democracy in Nepal. Political groups of various ideological shades have united in their common demand to abolish the monarchy and this has put unprecedented pressure on the government. In the face of this wide and vehement demand for change, the scared monarchy recently decided to celebrate the anniversary of the February coup early by arresting 200 political leaders, cutting phone lines and internet connections, and spreading terror through the streets on January 20th of this year. This tyranical act only further dramatized the fact that the monarchy in Nepal has no interest in sharing power with any democratically-elected government. This brutal repression by the monarchy and the brave resistance shown by the Nepalese people are both signs of the fact that the current political battle in Nepal is moving beyond a simple push for the restoration of the half-monarchy, half-parliamentary government that existed before the coup; instead it has become a battle for complete abolishment of the monarchy and establishment of a multi-party parliamentary democracy. The United States government, true to its colors, supports a royal despot in Nepal, just as it uses the rhetoric of spreading democracy as a thin veil for its imperialist annexures of resource-rich countries like Iraq and Afghanistan. Despite international criticism of its false claims and of its deliberate use of misinformation to justify its wars in the Middle East and South Asia, the US government continues to wage wars against the people of developing nations while its corporate bosses reap the financial benefits. .

Tonight, Keith Harmon Snow, a war correspondent, human rights investigator, and international American photojournalist will speak about American-British Empire Building: War On Terror, Invasion, Occupation. Snow has done extensive work on exposing American miltarism in Africa particularly Rwanda and the Congo and is currently in Delhi to display his photos of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, which expose and document the terrifying brutality with which the American-British empire is attempting to crush resistance to its takeover. Since the beginning of the Iraq war, disturbing images such as photos of injured or killed American soldiers have been banned in the US, for fear that they might influence public opinion against the war. It has therefore been through the brave attempts of activists, journalists, and common people, including those living in the United States like Snow, that the deliberate lies and disinformation of the US government-media combine have been repeatedly exposed over the past few years. Whether it be the fallacious accusations of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, the planting of pro-US news stories by the military in occupied areas, or the human rights abuses against detainees at Abu Gharib or the US gulags like Guantanamo Bay, the dirty underside of the American empire has continually been brought to light by these peoples work. .

On 1 March President George Bush is coming to India. Rather than denouncing the war criminal and architect of world-wide neoliberal reforms that devastate developing nations like India, the UPA government is hosting George Bush as a guest of honour and thus assuring its further compliance with US diktats. From the opening up of every possible sector of our economy to FDI, to joint Indo-US military exercises, to voting against Iran in the IAEA, Manmohan Singhs UPA government has knelt further and further down at the feet of US empire. If an American like Snow, coming from the heart of the empire, has the courage to stand up against his government and expose its crimes, then certainly we have the power to stand up and denounce our governments shameful capitulation to US power. .

.

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.

Jan 28, 2006 .

The streets of Kathmandu are shaking with the slogan, Gyane Chor, Desh Chhod (Gyanendra thief, leave the country). This vehement demand to abolish the monarchy in Nepal shows the incredible transformation of political consciousness in the country, where the people have travelled from venerating their monarch as the incarnation of Lord Vishnu, to denouncing him as an obstacle to democratic rule. It is the first time that Nepalis have shown such a strong resistance to the monarchy. .

In the Eighteenth Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte, Marx wrote that history repeats itselfthe first time as tragedy, the second time as farce. When Gyanendra butchered his family members in June 2001 to occupy the throne and then conducted a coup on February 1st, 2005, abolishing the parliamentary government, he was re-enacting the coup carried out by his father, King Mahendra, in 1960, which also toppled the parliamentary government of that time. Thus, despite coups and changes in rulers, we see a continuity over the past forty-five years in which the monarchy has continually suppressed or destroyed democratic governments, which it can only see as threats to its power. What remains yet to be seen is whether this new regime will indeed be a farce, or another tragedy. .

Despite the King Gyanendra and the monarchists attempts to crush any type of opposition through threats and violence, the past year has seen a brave and continual resistance put up by the Nepali people, who have repeatedly come out into the streets to denounce the monarchy and demanded the establishment of democracy in Nepal. Political groups of various ideological shades have united in their common demand to abolish the monarchy and this has put unprecedented pressure on the government. .

In the face of this wide and vehement demand for change, the scared monarchy recently decided to celebrate the anniversary of the February coup early by arresting 200 political leaders, cutting phone lines and internet connections, and spreading terror through the streets on January 20th of this year. This tyranical act only further dramatized the fact that the monarchy in Nepal has no interest in sharing power with any democratically-elected government. This brutal repression by the monarchy and the brave resistance shown by the Nepalese people are both signs that the current political battle in Nepal is moving beyond a simple push for the restoration of the half-monarchy, half-parliamentary government that existed before the coup; instead it has become a battle for complete abolishment of the monarchy and establishment of a multi-party parliamentary democracy. .

The United States government, true to its colors, supports a royal despot in Nepal, just as it uses the rhetoric of spreading democracy as a thin veil for its imperialist annexures of resource-rich countries like Iraq and Afghanistan. Despite international criticism of its false claims and of its deliberate use of misinformation to justify its wars in the Middle East and South Asia, the US government continues to wage wars against the people of developing nations while its corporate bosses reap the financial benefits. .

In the recent past we have seen the movement by the UPA government towards making India a colony of the US gain speed and momentum: from the implementation of neo-liberal economic policies, to joint Indo-US military exercises, to voting against Iran in the IAEA, Manmohan Singhs UPA government has knelt further and further down at the feet of US empire. .

The visit by US President George Bush to India on March 1st is a culmination of these movements toward making India a client state of the US. Rather than denouncing the war criminal and architect of world-wide neoliberal reforms that hurt developing nations like India, the UPA government is hosting George Bush as a guest of honour and thus assuring its further compliance with his governments diktats. .

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👉 Explore now at ift.tt/oNKb0m3

ift.tt/0XBfaIY The Feline Earthquake Forecast

Unraveling the MysteryAs we

continue to marvel at the

remarkable abilities of our

feline friends one phenomenon

stands out as particularly

intriguing cats alleged

ability to predict earthquakes

While the scientific community

remains divided on the extent

of this phenomenon one thing

is certain cats have been

observed exhibiting unusual

behavior in the hours or even

days leading up to seismic

activityAs we delve into the

mysteries of catquake

forecasting several theories

emerge to explain how our

whiskered companions seem to

sense the impending tremors

But before we dive into the

whys and hows lets first

acknowledge the fascinating

phenomenon itselfThe Odd

BehaviorCats earthquake

predictions are often

characterized by unusual

behavior such as Increased

agitation or restlessness

Pacing back and forth Meowing

loudly Seeking shelter or

hiding Refusing to eatThese

peculiar actions have been

observed in cats living in

areas prone to earthquakes

leading many to speculate that

they might be picking up on

some sort of seismic

signalTheories

ExplainedSeveral theories

attempt to explain how cats

may be predicting earthquakes1

Magnetoception Some scientists

propose that cats possess a

unique magnetic sense allowing

them to detect changes in the

Earths magnetic field before

an earthquake strikes2

Vibration Perception Another

theory suggests that cats can

detect even slight vibrations

in the ground which might

signal an impending quake3

Electromagnetic Signals This

theory proposes that cats are

sensitive to electromagnetic

signals emitted by the Earth

during seismic activity

allowing them to predict

earthquakes4 Changes in Air

Pressure Some researchers

believe that changes in air

pressure often preceding an

earthquake may be detected by

cats highly attuned

sensesWhile these theories

offer potential explanations

for catquake forecasting its

essential to acknowledge that

the scientific community

remains divided on the issue

More research is needed to

fully understand and validate

this phenomenonOblige the

MysteryAs we continue to study

and learn from our feline

friends we must also respect

the complexity of their

earthquakepredicting abilities

For now the mystery of

catquake forecasting remains

an intriguing enigma obliging

us to explore further and

uncover the truth behind these

remarkable animalsIn

conclusion while the

scientific consensus is not

yet 100 certain on the matter

the phenomenon of cats

predicting earthquakes remains

a fascinating topic worthy of

continued exploration Who

knows Perhaps one day well

unlock the secrets behind our

feline friends extraordinary

abilities obliging us to

reevaluate our understanding

of animal intelligence and

behaviorStay tuned for more

updates on this intriguing

subject and remember if your

cat starts acting strange it

might just be trying to tell

you something about the

impending earthquake www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9vHimNpJz0