Swans -LBD
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Taken on a cold winter day in Pa. Ice was forming around the lake, but the swans seemed oblivious. Could have watched them all day....
Gesehen in den Urdenbacher Kämpen.
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Seen in the Urdenbacher meadow, near Duesseldorf
Swans and cygnets seen on our Winchester trip last year. Only just getting around to looking at some of these photos.
Singschwäne in Norddeutschland im Winterquartier. Majestätische und recht ruhige Flieger. Die Fluggeräusche sind in keiner Weise mit dem starken, "metallisch sausenden bis singenden" Geräusch der fliegenden Höckerschwäne zu vergleichen.
Ihre Stimme erheben sie hingegen melodiös singend - ein besonderes Erlebnis. Wer sich einem Höckerschwan nähert, der hat bestimmt dessen fauchenden Lautäußerungen schon mal gehört - durchaus auch ein besonderes Erlebnis, das einem das Fürchten beibringen kann. Dann ist Rückzug angesagt.
This swan presented itself quite nicely for dusk, side lighting.
On Explore October 12, 2017.
Although these are beautiful creatures . . .
From the Michigan DNR website: "Mute swans are an invasive non-native species that pose a growing threat to native animals, habitat and people. Their numbers are well above an acceptable range "
One last swan image, I am quite excited about this pair and hoping to be able to observe them with their family.
Buckpool and Fens Pool Local Nature Reserve
What3Words
///thin.spill.bravo
The Mute Swan is a large, all-white waterfowl native to Eurasia, widely recognized for its long, gracefully curved neck and a distinctive orange bill with a black knob at the base. Despite its name, it is not completely silent and produces hisses, snorts, and grunts, though it is less vocal than other swan species.
Size and Appearance:
Mute swans are among the largest flying birds. Adults have brilliant white plumage, black feet, and a prominent black knob (basal knob) on their orange bill, which is larger in males (cobs). When swimming, they hold their necks in an elegant 'S' shape, often with their wings slightly raised in a display known as "busking".
Habitat and Diet:
They are found in a variety of aquatic environments, including ponds, lakes, rivers, canals, estuaries, and sheltered coastal areas. Their diet primarily consists of submerged aquatic vegetation, which they reach using their long necks.
Behavior:
Mute swans form strong, long-lasting pair bonds and are known for their devotion to their offspring. They are highly territorial, especially during the breeding season, and will aggressively defend their nests and cygnets (young swans) from perceived threats, including humans and dogs.
Cygnets:
Young swans are typically covered in greyish-brown down (sometimes white, in a morph called "Polish swan") and have a dull, grey-black bill. They grow quickly, reaching near-adult size within three months, and attain full white plumage and the adult orange bill by their second year.
Lifespan:
In the wild, mute swans can live for over 20 years, with an average lifespan of around 10-11 years.
In Culture and Law:
The mute swan is significant in human culture. It is the national bird of Denmark and a symbol of love in many cultures due to its monogamous nature. It is also the subject of the famous Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale, "The Ugly Duckling".
In the UK, the British monarch retains the right to ownership of all unmarked mute swans in open water, a law dating back to medieval times. This ownership is primarily exercised on certain stretches of the River Thames through the traditional annual ceremony of "Swan Upping," which now serves as a population health check.