Seward, Alaska
While I was away in Yakutat, I
wondered about the nesting Seward TRUMPETER SWANS. I was a bit concerned about
the new mother as it seemed she was off the nest quite a bit, even when the
weather was wet and chilly. Once, I even saw a hen MALLARD standing on the nest
while both parents were enjoying a date together at the local salad bar.
Babysitter?
So the day after I got home
from Yakutat, I zipped over to the Nash Road wetlands. At first, all I could
see were both parents gliding along the far backside of the pond, partially
hidden by the tall horsetails and sedges. Then, one tiny light gray puff, a
second, and a third appeared next to their enormous, white parents! As the
little parade continued, I waited expectantly to see if there were any more
babies. One, two, three. Nope, that was it, and just right for these new
parents.
The triplets did not look
very old, so unless I hear otherwise, I’m going to guess Sunday, June 4th.
Happy Birthday, little cygnets!
The parents continued to take
good care of their little family, brooding them when chilly, guarding them from
predators, and leading them slowly around the pond, mostly at the back, to show
them food. Swans do not feed their young. Whenever the adults lowered their
long necks into the water, the babies gathered around excitedly, picking up
bits of vegetation stirred up by the dredging.
On June 9, I watched one
cygnet swim a little too close to its mom while her neck was underwater. He
paddled right in front and suddenly, up came the giant neck. It looked like a
little cowboy riding a horse! Up and up came the neck. If mom was surprised,
she didn’t show it. He, however, was getting squeezed and rapidly rising up.
Somehow those little pink feet managed to push off against her neck and he
flopped back into the water on the other side, no worse for the ride.
Today, they were feeding much
closer to the road. My, how they’ve grown! Only about 10 days old and already
their necks are stretching longer. So adorable! They check out everything and
eat it, especially the tops of the water horsetail. Somehow, all this
vegetation and probably insects is converting nicely into swan.
Another family hatched out
about the same time. Mother MALLARD has 9 ducklings to keep track of, including
one that I call Peter after the wandering rabbit. Peter is often by himself,
peeping loudly, lagging far behind all the other obedient ducklings. I hope he
doesn’t end up in someone’s stew pot!
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter
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