“The couple in the southern end of the lake, raising four brown cygnets, are trying to drive out the other family, which has one cygnet. The southern father — wings beating, back hunched and neck extended — streaks across the lake with a wake behind him and repeatedly jumps on members of the other family. It looks as if he’s trying to drown them. Sometimes he has the help of the mother and their offspring. All appear to be males, and some are almost as large as their parents.”
Honestly, considering the Mute Swans’ propensity for violence, I’m surprised that the two pairs ever managed to co-exist at all. I’m also surprised at the people who think it’s a good idea to step into the fray between thirty-pound birds with bone-cracking wings and the intent to commit mayhem for reproductive glory. One wing to the crotch and they could win a Darwin award of their own.
Plus, hello, Mute Swans. Invasive, obnoxious, probably crypto-monarchists. Like when the Cowboys play the Redskins, the correct reaction is to root for both teams to lose.
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October 5, 2009 at 7:26 am
As a birder from the Mute Swan’s natural range, I can fully attest they are invasive, definitely monarchists, have a propensity to violence, have bone-cracking wings and the intent to commit mayhem for reproductive glory.
However, I only find them obnoxious when they get inbetween me and a promised blog post with albatross pictures.
October 5, 2009 at 6:14 pm
How did Mute Swans win the loyalty of so many people? They’re bigger, dirtier, and meaner than Canada Geese and cause more problems in wetland ecosystems. They’re not exactly graceful, either, as anyone who has watched their takeoffs, flight, or landings can attest. Yet Canada Geese are detested while Mute Swans are beloved.
the correct reaction is to root for both teams to lose
Obviously.
October 6, 2009 at 1:21 pm
John, I agree with the flying bit of their behaviour, particularly their take-off, but you can’t really deny they have grace when swimming. To me they share the same fate as the mallard: they’re just too common and familiar in urban areas to receive a fair trial by birders. Both would undoubtly be at the top of each birder’s dream list if they were rare breeders in remote corners of the world. But the way it is now, they’re mostly placed in the same league as domestic pigeons, poultry and escaped budgies.
I am also prone to this somewhat unjust judgement but every once in a while, I feel sympathy.
October 8, 2009 at 10:40 am
Come to think of it, in the US they indeed ARE in the same leage as domestic pigeons, poultry and escaped budgies. Maybe I should think before I comment?
Sounds like a reasonable plan.