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May 1: Once again, thanks to all the people keeping me informed. Apparently there was an incident last night - a man pushing a shopping cart on the path next to the Lagoon pulled a knife. He was going for some swans in the feeding area (away from the nests). Some people called the police. The man then attacked a woman at the bus loop, police arrived, but could not find the woman attacked. There my information ends - I missed the news last night. As for the swans today... In the morning the "D" pair were away from their nest - the eggs left covered. By the evening the nest was uncovered and all 3 eggs gone. The "B" pair still had 5 eggs in the morning but by evening had only 4. There were no signs of broken eggs near either nest. The "A" pair have a new egg in their (third) nest. They also had a visit from the "D" pen and the "C" cob (of last year). Both were chased off (along with a few people). Could it be that the "D" pair, having lost all their eggs have split with the pen returning to her mate of last year (they were the "C" pair)? It seems increasingly unlikely that any of the swans will keep eggs, let alone cygnets this year. I will be scaling back my monitoring of events. Assuming any swans manage to keep eggs, none are due to hatch until late in the month. I will resume more active monitoring at that time. Good luck to the swans!
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May 3: Yesterday the "D" pair had been observed in courtship display - so obviously they are still together. 7am today - someone jogging past the "D" site (Causeway) saw a Raccoon eating a swan's egg. In the evening I located the remains of the egg caught in a tree root at the edge of the nest (photos taken, but not shown here). It seems likely that the "D" pen had laid another (4th?) egg in the nest only to loose it immediately. This pair is less attentive to the site than the other pairs. Raccoons being opportunistic, one probably came upon the egg in an unattended nest. That's Nature. At the "B" site the pen still sits on four eggs. Having observed her turning them and nearly kicking one out of the nest, I now believe their loss of the 5th egg was probably an accident. As far as I can tell she never leaves the nest - and if she does the cob is probably at the nest in her absence. The "E/C" cob continues to patrol his territory from last year - on his own? The "F" pair remain confined in Ceperly meadow (chased regularly by the "B" cob). In the morning the "A" pen reportedly was sitting on her nest (one egg), in the evening I saw the cob sitting there. The fact that the cob was sitting suggests that the pen is still laying. If so they are due for another one today. When I was there he did not stand up so I could not count.
May 4: The "D" pair are still seen near their (empty) nest site, but mostly seen in the feeding area. More reports of off-leash dogs chasing swans in the wetland and feeding areas. The "A" pair were away from their (3rd) nest most of the time - hardly surprising as they too have lost their last egg. So now we have only the "B" pen sitting on her four eggs, diligent as ever.
May 5: The "D" pair were once again seen near their (empty) nest site. A report at the Nature House indicated that someone saw the "A" pair with an egg further into the wetland. Sure enough, I found the cob sitting at their previous nest site, the pen feeding nearby. So I guess they have kept trying - egg count at one. The ever diligent "B" pair still have four eggs.
May 6: No change for the "D" pair (no eggs, away from nest site). The "B" pen still sits on four eggs (no change). The "A" pair were in the wetland - no evidence of an egg in any of their nest sites (possible broken shell in yesterday's nest).
May 7: Reports that the "D" pen had not come to the "feeding station" for 2 days and may be sick. She looked OK to me two days ago, but I did not see her yesterday. In the early evening today I did see her looking very quiet near the Nature House. Earlier she had been seen with trembling in the neck and other unhealthy signs. Eventually she "perked up" a bit and moved off to her nest site (though staying in the water). A closer look today at the "A" pair's second nest revealed a broken egg. The "A" pair were at the feeding site across the Lagoon. I could not count the eggs at the "B" site - "still she sits"!
May 8: The "B" pen still sits on four eggs. No eggs for the"A"s. A quick head count of the swans only came to 11. As far as I can tell the "D" pen is missing, but she may have been the swan asleep in the middle of the Lagoon. The "B" cob was on the move during my count so he may have been the one I missed. Or... Now comes the time when I must take a break from updating this web site - check back at the end of May (when I will attempt to catch up). Sorry to leave you in suspense! If you have any information, then please e-mail me.
May 9: One more (sad) update before I take my break. The good news is that the "B" pen still sits on four eggs. This morning I found her and the cob in the water close to the nest. She then returned to the nest, preened, uncovered and turned the eggs, before settling back into incubating. The "A" cob was sitting at the third (fenced) nest site, but when he stood up there were no eggs (not really expecting any new ones). The "A" pen was feeding in the wetland. All the other swans were in their usual locations, except the "D" pair. The "D" cob was over towards the feeding area with other swans. The two-year old female (still has paler bill) was seen with two males in that area. All were investigating a very small floating island (pictures take - I will display them here next month, time permitting). The "D" pen was nowhere to be found. Upon leaving the park I dropped in at the Parks Board Office, where I happened to meet the Wildlife Technician. She confirmed that one swan had been found dead and sent off for a necropsy (post-mortem). She thought it was the youngest female, but when I indicated that I had just seen that bird, she agreed that it must be the (almost) three-year old mother from last year (the "D" pen). There were apparently no signs of injury on the bird, which was found on land in the middle south side of the Lagoon close to the wooden shelter (near the unofficial feeding area). I neglected to inquire just when the body was found, but believe it must have been yesterday. I informed her of my observations of two days ago. I was also informed that the surviving cygnet from last year ("Ivory") had been placed in the pond inside the miniature railway (elsewhere in the park). Back in late April four swans had been placed there (at the same time the three new ones were placed in Lost Lagoon). Apparently they are of a "similar age" to "Ivory" - no territorial disputes (well not this year anyway). I also have one report of two swans seen in the Children's Farmyard (Ivory's recent home).
May 28: I'm back! Late in the day, jet-lagged from a trip to England. While there I was fortunate enough to see many Mute Swans and several nest sites - including one set of six cygnets (one "Polish"). I was also able to visit the Haven (featured in my site comparison, elsewhere on this site). Much useful information about Mute Swans in their native environment was gathered (photos too). I will update the comparison pages over the next few months. I was kept up to date with the Stanley Park Swans while away - here is a brief summary...
May 14 - new egg for "A" pair (location not reported). "B" pair still incubating four eggs.
May 16 - "A" pair's latest egg gone . "B" pair still have four eggs.
May 21 - two new eggs near the "D" nest site. Not really in a nest, just in some bushes on the embankment between the road and the path. Reported as laid by the "causeway pair", this can not be so as the Pen from that pair died May 9th. It is probably the "A" pair who used to nest in that area before moving to the wetland area (this year).
May 23 - confirmed that it is the "A" pair with the two new eggs (less than a metre from the road). "B" pair still have four eggs - turning frequently.
May 25 - the two new eggs ("A" pair) are gone. The "B" pair are now into day 36 of incubation (still with four eggs).
May 27 - "B" pair still have four - Pen is very attentive.
May 28 (today) - I'm back from vacation and within hours check up on the Swans! The "B" pen is still at the nest (with four eggs). The "A" pair are out on the Lagoon as are the other (non-nesting) swans. All seems quieter. The two "new" swans are still "trapped" at the Ceperly end of the Lagoon. Hatching of the"B" eggs can be expected any day now.
May 29: Much quieter on the Lagoon these days - only the "B" pair seem highly territorial. Nothing hatched yet.
May 30: "B" pair now into 42nd day of incubation - getting close to the "official" maximum. The new swans in the Ceperly area are frequently chased out of the water by the "B" cob. When you have no pond, a puddle will have to do...
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May 31: "B" pair still incubating - here we see the pen turning the eggs and a "portrait"...
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