I admit it.
I am broody – all gooey-eyed over someone else’s baby. My mothering instincts are on red alert and I am all mother-hen.
A quick look at the online free dictionary defines mother-hen (noun) as a person who cares for the needs of others (especially in an overprotective or interfering way.)
Err… yes… been accused of that bit in brackets and have been mending my ways, so between you and me, can we agree to ignore it?
Let me put you in the picture: At the back of where we live, there is a large pond – very attractive. There is a water fountain, reeds, rushes, a few fish in the pond, often a duck or two or a moorhen and we have even heard bullfrogs and seen them frolicking about. Quite a lively little ecosystem.
A few months ago we spotted a swan sitting on the bank in a fairly protected area. In fact, there were two: one sitting and the other one lurking close by. This went on for a number of weeks.
Eventually, I tweaked they were probably sitting on a nest. One day on one of my walks, I was heading towards a lovely wooded path right behind the flats and houses, when I was met with a great surprise.
Walking towards me along the pavement, were two adult swans and seven cygnets! That stopped me dead in my tracks. I just watched and marvelled as they kept on walking towards me. I backtracked, not wanting to give them cause for concern.
Touched by Nature
It is quite amazing how one’s instincts come to the fore when nature presents you with such a sight. All of a sudden, I am all like a mother-hen. I want to know that they are well. I am concerned that they may get run over by a car; after all, it is a residential area. I am wondering whether they get enough food. So at least once a week, I go take a look so as to keep an eye on this family of swans.
It seems I’m not the only one who is touched by this.
Pedestrians in the area seem to go out of their way to encounter the swan family. When they are walking on the grassy bank, drivers smile and slow their vehicles down to share in this delight of nature.
Mothers bring their little children to see and feed the swans. Personally, I don’t do this because I don’t believe the bread is necessarily good for them and more importantly, as they learn to trust humans, it may just lead them into dangers they would not otherwise have encountered.
Life happens
Last week on my walk to check the swans, I had trouble finding them. Eventually, I spotted them on the far side of the pond and walked over. There was the father; assumption only – no knowing for sure that this was the male – guarding his family from the grassy bank. Mother and the six little cygnets were paddling on the pond, fishing for food and enjoying the sunshine.
Six? Where is number seven? What happened? Common sense tells me it is unlikely that EVERY cygnet from the clutch is likely to survive. Still – it is a bit sad.
Yesterday I went round to see them. They roam all over the area around the pond. When I finally found them, there is only one big one, the mother I assume, and five cygnets. They are visibly bigger – growing fast now. The questions on my mind are ‘Where is dad? Where is number six? Did a fox get them?’
Nature’s Way
Such are the dramas of nature we know little about. The initial excitement of the swan family is now tinged with a touch of sadness. I wonder if swans are aware of such an ebb and flow of emotions?
When you look at them, you cannot tell from their behaviour that anything is different. The mother is not fussing more than usual and none of the cygnets hang around closer to mum for safety. They seem to simply accept – it is as it is – and carry on as usual.
They are Swan. They are graceful. They are so peaceful. And they are leaving the most beautiful white feathers about. We are so blessed to have them so close and still free in nature.
Photo Credit: Yours truly armed with a Blackberry
