Casanova-cob (Swans)

Member Name: goosey

Product:	Swans
Date:	17/07/09 (169 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Beautiful, graceful birds

Disadvantages: none

I am not sure that swans can be thought of as pets, but since dooyoo has placed them in that category, I thought I might share what little knowledge I have of those most beautiful and regal of birds gracing our lakes.

A swan is a swan, is a swan, or so I thought until I started reading about them and uncovering lots of interesting facts and myths.

My interest was ignited many years ago when learning of a pair of swans nesting in the moat surrounding The Bishop's Palace, at Wells in Somerset. Any swans living in these waters, will very quickly learn that when they ring the bell hung under a window above the moat, someone from inside will throw them food.

~~~~~DESCRIPTION~~~~

Swans are the largest bird of the duck and geese family to which they are closely related - would you believe. This is all to do with the scientific classifications of birds, where geese and ducks are sub families, but let's not get too entangled in Latin jargon.

The male swan, which is generally larger than the female, is called a cob; the female is a pen, and their little 'ugly-duckling' 'offspring' are cygnets.

Swans prefer to feed and breed in countries of temperate climates. There are seven distinct species, some of which are wholly migratory, in that they migrate with the seasons, to and from countries with temperatures more suited to their breeding and feeding habits.
Then there are the partial migrants; these tend to migrate from Eastern European countries; seeking more permanent breeding grounds in climates such as our own.

~~~~~SPECIES OF SWAN~~~~

BEWICK'S swans: Migrate from Arctic Russia to Western Europe and Eastern Asia in the winter, then, as the temperatures rise, back they go to Russia - with love?

WHOOPER swans: Breed in Iceland during their summer, then migrate to Europe and Asia in the winter.

TUNDRA swans: Are a small breed of swan which will winter in the USA and migrate northwards to breed in the North American Tundra.

TRUMPETER swan: This breed is similar to the Whooper swan, but slightly larger and is found in North America.

BLACK-NECKED swan: As the name suggests, they have white body feathers, but black necks. These are found in South America.

BLACK SWAN: These are completely black, with the exception of white flight feathers on their wing tips and are native to Australia.

MUTE swan: Is native to the USA and several European countries, including Britain and Ireland. These swans are classed as being partial migrants.

~~~~~GENERAL EATING AND BREEDING HABITS~~~~

These beautiful birds are mainly herbiverous and will feed in the water and on land. Both pen and cob collectively build a large nest (about three feet in diameter) out of twigs and reeds, on the ground and very close to the water.
The pen lays a clutch of four to seven eggs, all of which, both cob and pen share the task of incubation - though not necessarily in equal measure.

It is widely thought that swans form monogamous pairs, often lasting their lifetime. However, there are occasions when there is a parting of company, particularly if they fail to breed successfully. It has been known for swans to pair as many as four times in their lifetime. (Not just a human trait then!)

Mute swans are the species most commonly found on our waterways, although we do see Bewick's and Black swans in this country. However, I shall concentrate on our graceful friends the mute swan.

~~~~~MUTE SWANS~~~~

Mute swans, are so called because they make very little noise in comparison to other species of swans. They do however, have a few distinctive sounds - hissing being most commonly heard when defending their nests and cygnets.
They have a life span of between ten and twenty years and can weigh as much as 15kg (almost 2.5 stone) They have a wing span of about 240cms and can fly up to speeds of 55mph, but need fairly long, watery run-ways to reach take off speeds. When landing, their webbed feet act as water skis.

~~~~~APPEARANCE~~~~

The bills are orange or pinkish in colour, with black on the lower tip of the top bill and a black, chevron-shaped, featherless area between the eyes and the bill. This featherless black skin forms a hump over the bill - a feature also shared by the Black and Black-necked swans. Young cygnets lack the hump but develop one later.
The feathers are pure white; their eggs are white with a greenish tinge and hatch after 35 days. The cygnets usually remain on the nest for two days before taking to the water, accompanied by the pen, who defends them vigorously against any predators, human or otherwise, trying to get too close. Often the cygnets will climb onto the pen's back and nestle between her wings for warmth and protection.

~~~~~CONSERVATION ISSUES~~~~

Long ago, swans were kept and bred for food, but are now protected by the Crown . Eat one if you dare!! - though I think beheading went out long ago too!
However, they are still under constant threat from other sources. Fishermen pose a terrible threat to swans. This is because swans need to eat grit to aid digestion and often pick up and ingest lead, disgarded by fishermen. Lead breaks down in their stomachs causing muscular and neurological damage. Swans affected in this way are easily recognised by their kinked necks, their muscles being too weak to support them. If a swan collides with a power line, the reason can be attributed to the neurological effects of lead poisoning.

~~~~~LEGENDS AND MYTHS~~~~

Because of their monogamous behaviour, swans are widely regarded as symbols of love and fidelity.
In Greek mythology, there is a story that tells of Helen of Troy, who was supposedly conceived in a union between Leda, Queen of Sparta and Zeus, who was disguised as a swan.

There are a couple of Irish swan-related legends. One, in the story 'The Wooing of Etain.' where Etain, the king of the supernatural kingdom, transforms himself and all the beautifull women of Ireland, into swans to escape the king of Ireland and his armies. (I guess the 'plain-Janes' were left to their fate)
Another Irish legend tells of a stepmother to the children of Lir, who transformed them into swans for 900 years. ( I wonder if they have turned back into human form yet.)
The swan is depicted on the Irish commemorative Euro coin.

It is said that the mute swan, upon death, sings the most beautiful song, hence the saying 'Swan-song.'

Swans also feature in Norse and Finnish mythology, but most interestingly, even though they are no longer found in India, are highly revered in Hinduism. They are thought to hold saintly characteristics, in that they are of this world, but unaffected by it - just as their feathers touch the water, but do not become wet.

Gurus and Yogis, who have attained spiritual greatness and capabilities, are sometimes called Paramahamsa, which means 'Great Swan,' because swans are attributed with the same powerful abilities, such as being able to travel between spiritual worlds and also able to drink milk mixed with water, from a saucer, and leave just the water behind.

I must finish with a cute true story about the pair of mute swans residing on the moat at Wells.
A few years ago, Wells lost its famous pair of swans. The Queen, in her Jubilee year, gave the city a pair of mute swans. These flew away. Another pair were gifted to the city and settled to breed and the pair seemed a happy match set for life. Then, what I can only describe as a Casanova-cob flew in and paired with the pen, raised their cygnets and flew off again, on his own. The remaining cob 'Faithful' is now sulking no longer swimming with his floozey- mate. Have they divorced, I wonder. He hasn't flown away, so maybe there is hope yet. Or will Casanova be back?

Summary: Who will win her heart Casanova or Faithful?