I have been totally rubbish at this blogging thing. I'm going to be much better at it from now on.
3 years ago quite by accident, I found myself with 2 new pets. I say 'myself' and 'pets' loosley because I think they might technically belong to Her Majesty and I’m not sure you can class a couple of wild mute swans as pets. I've always loved swans, they're elegant and beautiful and they have that cute neck dance thing going on where they come together and make a heart when they fancy the pants off each other.
Anyway, one day I’d been mooching around the canal path when all of a sudden I spied a bit of a commotion on a bridge. Now some folk might say I’m a right nosey parker. I prefer to say I’m naturally observant. So I pushed my way through the crowd which was probably 5 people maybe 8 at a stretch and peered over the bridge to see what was so interesting.
There she was; A beautiful swan sitting on the biggest nest I have ever seen. I soon understood what the attraction was. Everyone was waiting for a glimpse of the eggs. And as soon as we saw them we rewarded her with loud ooohs and ahhhs. Everyone had their mobile phones out to take photos of the gleaming eggs. Quite quickly it became a competition of who could shout out the number of eggs quickest.
As well as being nosey I have a big mouth!!! Seven, I cried triumphantly, seven eggs. I tell you what, those eggs are massive and it must take some doing for any bird to push one out never mind seven!
I decided there and then that I would visit the swans daily, and become chief announcer of any developments. This is when I also decided they needed naming and so George and Mildred came back into my life that day. Over the next few days of visiting I would actually talk about them to anyone else hanging around the bridge…. “Ah yes! George and Mildred you see, she has seven eggs currently and George has a magnificent wing span”……
What did concern me was that Mildred who had eaten plenty pre-nesting seemed to now be on a forced calorie controlled diet thanks to George. Apart from going for her daily ablutions and a little swim around she was on that nest 24/7. George was meant to be bringing her tidbits to keep her going. George was actually more bothered about firstly showing off previously mentioned magnificent wing span and secondly attacking anyone on the tow path or the actual canal. I’ve seen him attack cyclists, dogs and their walkers, walkers without dogs, joggers, canal and canoe boats.I mean the cyclists probably deserved it what with all that unnecessary Lycra they insist on wearing! And people in canoes are just weirdos.
So I started bringing her sweetcorn and potato and lettuce. I made sure none fell in George’s direction mind.
The other thing I learned about swans is that nesting can take anywhere from 35 - 41 days!! The longest 35 - 41 days of my life!
Anyway soon enough the cygnets hatched, and all of a sudden new people began to stand in my place on the bridge, the cheek of it! Pretty soon it became clear that George and Mildred were not the best at parenting. Out of seven they ended up with only two cygnets ( yes I also named them …. Aubrey and Sage), and not long after Sage disappeared so only Aubrey made it to 12 months.
Cue the next traumatic event……around this 12 month time, the parents shoo off any remaining cygnets to make room for the next batch of young. Poor Aubrey, not only an outcast but she crash landed on her solo flight and had to be rescued by The Yorkshire Swan and Wildlife Hospital ( check them out , they’re ace!). I didn’t want to see George and the now fatter well fed Mildred for a few days until I reconciled with this circle of life malarkey.
Season 2 was like being in an episode of the film Groundhog Day. Punxsutawney Phill was replaced by the first hatching cygnet…..everyone was clambering round the bridge with cameras and picnic baskets, oohs and ahhs a plenty, often prematurely. I felt like Bill Murray, less narcissistic of course, living the same day over and over until ……Six cygnets magically appeared overnight. Once again within a few weeks only one cygnet survived ….Billie, so named after a few great singers I like. I almost gave up on George and Mildred. I mean Jack and Vera ( my other pets!), further down the canal seemed to be doing a lot better with their young. But I stuck with the originals through thick and thin, a bit like a terrible marriage.
Fast forward to this years season 3. We have 3 cygnets out of 10 and they are named: Marie, Berlioz, Toulouse.
Traditionally names for posh cats, I know! So far all is going well. I’ve got a pocket book with all the local swans ring numbers logged and their names just in case anyone needs to know about them and where they’re situated on the canal. You know, I think I would like to become a Swan Upper for the Queen. Every July you get to row up the Thames logging all the swans and checking them and other important stuff. You also get a snazzy scarlet sweater. I think there’s more to it actually, but next year I’m going to go and watch this historic activity take place. Not so sure about being in a rowing boat though!
Above are some photos of George and Mildred that I’ve taken over the 3 years.(including the one of poor Aubrey wearing the rescue jacket of shame!)
George and Mildred really are a pair of beautiful swans indeed.
Alison x
Boris here - Great read!
ReplyDelete