MUTE SWANS
- August 29th, 2010
- Posted in Misc
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Their bill is a dullish grey-black for the first year. Their down feathers range in color from pure white to grey-buff. All Mute Swans are white at maturity, though the feathers (particularly on the head and neck) are often stained orangey-brown by the iron in the water.
During the swans molting period they can not fly. The moult takes about 6 weeks. In non-breeding birds this takes place usually during July. A pair with cygnets moult at different times, first the pen and then the cob in August to September so that one of them can always defend the young. This is a very stressful time for the bird. As you can see by the image above the swan is quite thin.
Mute Swans nest on large mounds that they build either in shallow water or at the edge of a lake. They are monogamous and will reuse the same nest each year if possible. Male and female swans share the care of the nest and the cygnets once they fledge. Families usually feed together. Mute Swans feed on a wide variety of vegetation. Most commonly are the submerged aquatic plants which they reach with their long necks. Each year, the swans eat millions of pounds of underwater aquatic vegetation which provides essential habitat for waterfowl, fish, and shellfish. The aquatic vegetation
is also needed to improve water quality. Mute Swans are widely viewed as an invasive species. There numbers are rapidly growing. The swans impact on other waterfowl and native ecosystems have drawn negative attention . They are protected in some states, but not others. Some states are attempting to control Mute Swan numbers.
These birds are elegant and fun to photograph. I enjoy seeing their majestic wings flap as they dry them off after bathing. Capturing unique poses and beautiful displays are always enjoyable to me.
http://www.mdsg.umd.edu/issues/restoration/non-natives/workshop/mute_swan.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mute_Swan
Denise, I like your Mute Swan images. I actually learned some things I didn’t know from reading your article. so thanks…
Thanks for taking a look and commenting Michael, I appreciate it.
Denise, loved the first warm-light one the most. It has your signature all over it.
Kaustubh, Thank you very much. I like that one the most too