Diary of Ell Pond's Swans and Cygnets (2018)

Here's a little photo essay to warm your hearts just before Valentine's Day. Pictured above are eight cygnets who were born to "Mel" and "Rose" at the city's local pond this past year (2018).

This story is one of both the struggles they faced while learning from their parents and a srory of survival. Sadly, only three of the eight survived.

The first order of business for the city's well known swans, "Mel" and "Rose," was to lo locate a prime spot on Ell Pond to raise another family.

They worked together pulling reeds as they built their new home.

Next, the laying of eggs and the incubation period as another clutch of cygnets were raised on Ell Pond.

Then a month and a half (approximately 35-40 days after the last egg is laid) both the cob (male) and pen(female) participate in the incubation period. The pair, sometimes together and at other times alternate sitting on the nest, regularly turning the eggs during the incubation period and caring for the cygnets before they hatch. As they cygnets hatch both parents are nearby watching and helping.

As the cygnets hatch, there is a waiting period as each one is exhausted from its experience of breaking through its egg into the new world.

It's important for the cygnets o have a good long rest following the hatching process.

Once dry and awake, the young swans have very little time to explore their nest.

Sometimes though, there is a bit of time for new discoveries.

Cygnets spend part of their first day also getting tp know each other and their parents.

Just one day after the brood of 2018 became official residents of Ell Pond, Melrose, it was time for their first swim. Their parents, "Mel" and "Rose," encouraged them to leave the nest and test the water. Some cygnets were not too fond of leaving the nest.

It took an encouraging nudge by both parents to get the whole family together for swimming around the pond. It is such a big pond for moving little webbed feet around the area and learning to avoid some dangers that lie beneath the surface the water. Tired cygnets were then introduced to another nest where they could not wait to take a well deserved rest.

Parents of the cygnets throughout each day taught their children how to swim, how to dive for food, how to watch for predators in the water, on land and in the sky as best they could.

The swans little legs strengthened throughout their daily swims and their little wings eventually grew enough for "Mel" and "Rose" to begin the routine of teaching the art of flying. Once again, some cygnets were not too certain about the new activity. Eventually, those who survived the year worked together flying with their parents and then on their own.

Lesson 1 -demonstrating the art of getting webbed feet on water in preparation for the flight run.

Lesson 2- Wings at the ready.

Second thoughts? This cygnet seems to have just come to realize its parents want it to fly "Where?" "Way up there?"

Teaching the technique of taking off.

Cygnets practicing their new skills.

First born - almost airborne.

Cygnets on their own in a group exercise.

Taking turns as the pilot.

Working on turning.

It can be tricky navigating a flight pattern near trees.

Demonstration of a graceful landing.

Cygnets in their first year of life had a lot to learn. As winter approached, their parents gave them more independence. Now the remaining trio has left "Mel" and "Rose" with an empty nest. The question most often asked of those who live near or walk around the pond is "Where do the cygnets go when they leave the nest?"

There's no way to know exactly where, especially if you are not scientifically following their movements. However, there are three new residents in nearby Lynnfield.

Could it be that these are the 2018 surviving cygnets from Ell Pond, Melrose at their new Lynnfield location?