Seward, Alaska
I about went off the road on Wednesday when I saw seven (!) adult TRUMPETER SWANS at the mile one Nash Road wetlands. Normally, the resident pair, especially with babies, aggressively and effectively drive off any other Swans who dare to land on their pond. Were five too many?
The two parents were indeed going nuts, trumpeting and bobbing their heads up and down like yo-yos in a very threatening manner. The five other adults pretended not to notice. Several preened while others tipped up to feed in a display of non-aggression or even utter distain. I did not see the four cygnets, hopefully hidden, but not otherwise protected as normal.
Much to my dismay, I did not have my camera. I whipped around and drove the five miles back home to get it.
By the time I got back, the parents were reunited with their babies and feeding off to the side in the horsetails. I counted and recounted. Waited, watched, and looked. Alas! there were only three! For the first time I can remember, a flightless cygnet did not survive. So sad!
The five intruders had made themselves at home, brazenly lounging on the ol’ nest, (still used for the cygnets) preening and napping, totally at ease. Hmmm. I wonder if these are five of the six cygnets hatched in 2018? As two-year olds, they would be old enough to look like adults, but maybe not quite ready to breed. That would explain their familiarity with the place, and perhaps the reluctance of the parents to truly drive them off. Kids!
The next several days played out about the same. The parents, continually distracted by the intruders, trumpeted, vigorously head-bobbed, feinted rushes, and threatened. The intruders behaved peaceably, preening, feeding and ignoring their parents. Occasionally, I noticed what I think was passive-aggressive behavior, purposefully paddling straight at the parents in pairs, getting a robust reaction of trumpeting and head-bobbing, then paddled past, smirking. The young cygnets tagged along behind the raging parents, huddled together. Or they seemed to be left to fend for themselves, heading for the horsetails to eat while this crazy family tried to figure it all out.
These cygnets will have to be very lucky to survive this delicate period of vulnerability while the parents are so continually forced to defend against the older siblings. If they survive, they will likely be the most independent Swans ever. I wonder if this unusual cygnethood will affect their parenting skills?
On Thursday, I found last year’s three cygnets feeding together at the recently clear-cut Preacher Pond. Their heads and necks are still distinctly gray, which makes them somewhat easier to identify. Seven adults, three one-year-olds, and three cygnets for 13 swans in all!
On Friday, I watched the momma MALLARD fly aggressively at one of the young adult Swans, taking the trouble to fly halfway across the pond to give it a piece of her mind. The Swan only scoffed. Her efforts were laudable but futile, and she soon returned to her five ducklings.
Today, that same momma duck continued to demonstrate her diving skills. Much to my astonishment, one of her little ducklings popped underwater repeatedly as well! Perhaps diving for dabblers is a learned behavior. Very impressive regardless!
The seven adults and three cygnets continued their family squabble as before. Then two Swans circled high around the pond twice, noted the drama, and wisely did not land. That would have added even more stress to the beleaguered parents. I subsequently found the two 2019 yearlings at Preacher Pond. I wonder what happened to the third sibling?
This unprecedented concentration of resident, year-round Swans may reflect that the prolific and successful rearing of Trumpeter Swans at the Nash Road wetlands has finally exceeded the carrying capacity of the Seward area. The Nash Road site is the best and only local place for the Swans to nest. Other potential places like Bear Lake and the Lagoon are heavily impacted by humans. It’s an interesting situation. Stay tuned!
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter
