Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 20, 1994 TAG: 9403180212
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Patricia Held
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Legend tells us that before a swan dies it sings its grand finale of songs. They say that it happens just once. As unbelievable as it may sound, there may be some truth to the story. According to one account given by an ornithologist with the American Museum of Natural History who witnessed a swan shot, the wounded bird came sailing down from the sky and began its death call. This plaintive and musical call was totally different from its call in life, and it continued until the bird hit the water.
Most of us know the mute swan. These birds are often sighted floating on ponds and lakes especially in parks. Originally introduced from Europe, they have been domesticated and now live throughout Europe and North America. Landowners often introduce them to private lakes where they settle in and eventually nest in the wild.
There are two other swans that are native to North America. These are the trumpeter swans and whistling or tundra swans, but neither of these nest locally. The whistling swans are found on occasion in Western Virginia as they pass through. But rarely do they stay long. They breed in the arctic tundra and migrate south in flocks. The trumpeter, at one time close to extinction, inhabits a very restricted range out west. The elegant black swan, sometimes found on estates, is imported from Australia.
Because of their extensive range, the mute swans are the best-known of all the swans. Far from being mute, they can be quite noisy at times and have several different sounds that range from a bark to a hiss or a snort.
The easiest way to identify a mute swan is by its black forehead knob, very arched neck and pinkish-orange bill. In contrast, the whistling swan has a black bill and holds its neck straight and bill level. No other all-white swan has such a knob above its beak as the mute swan. The female, known as a pen, is distinguished by a larger black knob than the male or cob. A full-grown mute swan reaches a 5-foot length with its graceful neck making up about half of its length. It has an 8- to 9-foot wingspread and can fly up to 50 miles per hour.
On land swans are not a bit graceful. Their legs are set far back under their bodies and they have little balance out of the water. But floating, they appear both graceful and majestic. They inhabit ponds and lakes where they feed on bottom weeds, root seeds, snails and larvae. When angered or frightened while swimming, swans will sink low in the water and look quite fierce. When happy and content they float high up and appear as graceful as can be.
Swans mate for life and sometimes take years to recover from the loss of a mate. One of a pair has been known to build a nest season after season expecting its mate to return.
Swans nest on land, often in high banks where both birds select twigs and other plant life for their nests. The male swan is a true hero when it comes to protecting its mate and young. Both a devoted husband and father, he guards eggs and chicks (called cygnets) against thieving rats, foxes, dogs and birds of prey. A powerful creature, the blow from the knucklebone of its wing can do considerable damage to an enemy.
The cygnets are under parental care for about five months. A true "ugly duckling," a cygnet is a dingy gray color for some time. As it reaches the size of its parents it slowly transforms into one of the most beautiful birds imaginable.
Patricia Held will respond to readers' questions on the plant and animal wildlife in the region. Mail inquiries to: Patricia Held, P.O. Box 65, Goode, Va. 24556.
Patricia Held is a Bedford County free-lance writer and author specializing in natural history.
by CNB