Seward, Alaska
My worst fears about the loss of the three TRUMPETER SWAN cygnets were recently confirmed by another birder. He saw two BALD EAGLES sitting near the Nash Road nest site on Monday afternoon, June 29, eating something. He could see a bit of white in the grasses, likely a cygnet. The parents swam back and forth around them without being aggressive; no cygnets were seen, or other Swans. At one point, one of the Eagles took off with talons full of vegetation and quite possibly a cygnet carcass. So, so sad.
What a bleak week without the family! One day, three 2-year olds napped on the wetlands on the east side of the road, and another day, a single Swan fed in the main pond. But overall, the pond, so recently filled with the joy of new life, then the distress of the five invading siblings, followed by the two marauding Eagles, now seemed abandoned.
When I drove past this morning, nothing had changed. Quiet and empty. Sigh.
But when I drove past in the early afternoon, I couldn’t believe my eyes! I turned around as soon as safely possible and starting taking photos of the unbelievable sight of two cygnets steaming across the pond accompanied by the mom. Where had they been hiding all week???
I watched anxiously for the dad, who soon paddled into view. Was the third cygnet with him? As he paddled across to join the family, it soon became clear that alas, the third cygnet had indeed perished. The confirmation dimmed my joy, but I felt so ecstatic that two survived. Two babies to watch as they grow bigger and become more competent. Two to stretch ever longer necks and wings, and learn to fly. Two to learn how to survive a long Alaskan winter.
The future is never certain, but now one can hope!
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report Reporter
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