The Lone Cygnet of Mine Falls Park

By Lynn Greenberg

The mist of spring appeared with the aroma of dew at Mines Falls in April of 2012.  I was unable to contain my excitement about the possibility that the pair of visiting swans would arrive early this year. Swans are very shy, private, but beautifully white, if you can find them. The swans at Nashua are mute swans and are generally silent. The mute swan will hold its long neck in an S-shape curve, with bill pointed down. When I arrived this year of 2012 again I indeed, by the grace of God, saw the mute swans. 

During the month of April I arrived every weekend to determine where the graceful pair would nest: would it be the same as last year? Indeed, they began to build a mound nest at the second look-out at Mine Falls. The pair worked in tandem to build a mound higher than the water with vegetation. It seemed forever until I saw the mother swan simply nesting and pulling weeds and vegetation with her long neck to secure the premature arrival of her expected cygnets.  The male swan kept vigilant and stayed close by, and continued to help build the nest.

In early May I saw the magnificent five cygnets through my Canon 400 mm.  The cygnets stayed close to the mother swan, never straying more than a few inches from her as she remained on the nest; they never looked away from their mother. Once the cygnets became more confident, the mother swan would routinely swim around the nest providing lessons on finding food. As the magnificent five grew the routine was to go away from the nest around the perimeter to the back-side of Mine Falls turtle trail. I was lucky to capture one relaxing, or perhaps recovering from a turtle nip. 

As summer came in full force, I noticed routine continued, but the number of cygnets dwindled from five to two, and then one.

The behavior of the swan parents became very vigilant never letting the remaining cygnet leave without being between them! In fact, the mother would often hide the cygnet and, for one month, I was unable to locate the cygnet. I am happy to report as of August 2012 the lone cygnet is into adolescence – brown and as long as the parents! 

As I have been watching the Summer Olympic Games, and thinking about the five cygnets, I have made a connection. In writing about the swan family, I would like to honor the magnificent American Five U.S. gymnasts who worked incredibly hard to achieve gold medals, along with the original five cygnets, who worked hard for survival.

It is in the goal, effort, and tireless commitment that, like the American gymnasts, nature succeeds and teams win gold medals!