Swans are growing in numbers at the Charles River Esplanade in Boston, Massachusetts. This particular swan family decided it was the perfect place to raise a family.
Emma Feeney marketing and events coordinator for the Esplanade Association said:
“In early April, we first noticed they had a nest along the pillars by the lagoon. Then shortly after, we saw that the female swan had begun to lay eggs. A total of nine eggs had been laid by early May, and about 10 days ago the cygnets began hatching.”
https://twitter.com/EsplanadeBoston/status/1397911801401024513
Other wildlife and birds lovers flocked around the nest to watch the magical hatching of the seven cygnets and how the parents cared for them.
Feeney shared:
“They’ve kind of become celebrities in Boston over the past few weeks,”
We aren’t surprised, just look how adorable they are!
https://twitter.com/EsplanadeBoston/status/1398373555625205761
Swan couples typically mate for life sharing parenting responsibilities from feeding, providing warmth and offering protection.
Sadly the mother fell ill and passed away shortly after giving birth to her babies.
One lady, Sylvia J. Zarco was on the bank of the river at night watching the new family when she noticed something was wrong with the mom.
“She was resting, sheltering her cygnets like the great mom she’s been for the past week. But she couldn’t lift and hold up her head. She stumbled when she stood, couldn’t swim straight and whatever she did, she only propelled herself backwards.” “Dad wouldn’t leave her. When the cygnets went for a swim, you could see how torn he was between staying with and encouraging his mate and protecting their young.”
“By the time Boston Animal Control (thank you Brad) could come to her aid, she had already died, But Dad must have known that already for even though he sat across the lagoon from where she lay, every time before when it looked like someone or something was endangering her, he’d charge across the water to fiercely protect her. But when Brad approached her, picked her up out of the water, wrapped her gently in a blanket, Dad did not move. He calmly sat at the nest with their cygnets safely tucked under his wings.”
A vet examined the mother swan but wasn’t able to find the cause of death.
Feeney said:
“The swan’s death broke many of the hearts of the community here in Boston, where we see people visiting the swans’ nest on a daily basis — it’s become part of their daily routine,”
Being a single parent the father swan stepped up and did everything he can to care for his babies.
https://twitter.com/AnnaMeiler/status/1400816232878718976
“They seem to be doing well, you can spot them in the esplanade lagoon swimming together, with some of the babies riding along on his back.”
“Geese will swim by them and you can tell that the papa swan is in full force, protecting the cygnets, you can tell that he’s just a great, great father to them. It’s very adorable.”
https://twitter.com/MatthewRaifman/status/1400846898618155014
Dad has truly stepped up to the plate and because of him, his seven babies have an incredible chance of growing up strong and healthy. Who knows, maybe one day they will return to the Charles River to start their own families.
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