Malmesbury swan blog: The cygnets are growing up fast

LIZ BRADLEY is following the cygnets' progress for us.

Thursday, June 25:

The cygnets are just over six weeks old now. I’m watching them tear up grass with their little serrated beaks at the edge of Station Yard car park. Their mother is with them; she stretches her neck to strip leaves from the willow tree, then stops, fans her wings and hisses at a passing dog. I notice a corner missing from her foot, but it doesn’t seem to bother her.

So what has happened to the family in the past two weeks? And what was the fate of the cygnet in the mill pond calling to its parent at ten o’clock at night on June 8?

I didn’t see the family for several days after that. Despite asking around, no sightings were reported. Then one evening there they were, settled on the nest; the pen with three cygnets huddled against her wing.

So sadly another one had perished, possibly the one I had been rooting for days earlier, but that remains unknown. And where was the cob?

It just didn’t look right to see the pen on the nest on her own, and her young looked vulnerable without the added protection of her mate.

So where was he? Surely he hadn’t left the family; we all know swans mate for life. There had been rumours of a rogue swan in the area. That would spell trouble!

In past years, there have been vicious and prolonged fights at Station Yard - and we’re not just talking about the clashes between the Malmesbury and Tetbury youths (allegedly).

Ted has witnessed swans fighting both on the river and in the car park! I guess we’re all territorial animals to some degree.

I went on a search for the cob, but couldn’t find him. I was hoping he wasn’t injured somewhere, or even dead.

The fate of a pen attacked and killed by a dog this spring in Cirencester Abbey grounds came to mind; the cob in that case went on to sit on the eggs. Swans are capable of bringing up their young on their own if the need arises. Hopefully not for our swan family though.

It wasn’t until several days later that I had some news; a phone call from Sarah, a friend walking near Brokenborough: “The swans are here,” she said.

“How many adults?” I asked.

“Two adults and two cygnets.” Oh no! It was a relief to know the cob was alive and back with the family, but another cygnet lost! Then: “Oh no, hold on a minute, there are three cygnets. Yes, three.”

Funny how your spirits can drop and lift in moments where baby swans are concerned!

So to this date, we have a family consisting of mum, dad, and three sturdy cygnets.

And what of the baby jackdaw with the sapphire eyes? It had left the nest unable to fly, and had been wandering in the abbey grounds and bird cage walk, along with at least one other. Sadly it looks as if one had wandered into the road, and was run over. The question of when to intervene in nature goes on.

As a general rule, the advice from wildlife rescue centres is that if you see a baby bird with feathers, and it is on the ground, then unless it is injured, leave it; the likelihood is the parents are feeding it, and in a day or two it may be able to fly.

If you come across one fallen from the nest without feathers, and you can see the nest, it’s ok to pick it up and put it back in. It is a myth to suggest the parents would then go on to reject it.

Back to the present:

The three cygnets are being photographed by delighted passers-by. One of the youngsters stands up, flaps its little wings, and decisively waddles towards the bank, keen to return to the river. It wasn’t long ago that that the babies were following mum’s lead, now they are getting bolder all the time. Its two siblings follow it down the grassy bank and onto the water.

I am pleased to see the dad is with them, perhaps he had called them in. The family swim in water dappled by sunlight, stopping to feed by the willow tree. The cygnets are now able to stretch their little necks high enough to reach and nibble at leaves dangling close to the water’s surface.

Suddenly the cob alarmed by the presence of a mallard with ducklings, flaps its wings furiously, and speeds down the river to chase them away; a behaviour which keeps him constantly busy, especially as ducks like to congregate near the nest.

Whilst chatting to people about the swan family over the weeks, certain questions have come up time and again.

Here is a sample, and an attempt at some answers:

• How can you tell the male and female adult swan apart?

The male is generally bigger than the female, and the black knob at the base of the beak is larger on the cob.

• What do swans eat?

Pond weed, grasses, some insects, tadpoles. There’s plenty of food in the river, but they can be fed grains; wheat, corn; fresh greens, eg lettuce; fresh bread in moderation (mould on bread is poisonous to them).

• Can a swan break your arm with its wing?

Technically possible in a weak-boned individual, but almost never heard of. Swans are defensive creatures, so unlikely to attack unless they or their young feel threatened.

• How long do the cygnets stay with the parents?

The parents will chase them away in the winter months, sometimes quite aggressively. The young may go in search of a flock, and stay there until they are mature at four years old. They will then look for a mate, and a nesting site.

• Why does this swan family keep nesting near the weir?

Answers on a postcard...

The swans and their somewhat larger brood near the weir earlier this year