Without his Mate, MALE Swan became a “Single Father” of 7 Chicks, doing everything to Raise their babies…
Swans are committed to 1 partner for life. Eagles, penguins, ducks and many more love 1 partner for life. That would be a great documentary that all boys and men have to watch. It can only help.
Plenty of women could learn from swans, too…!
Over the past year, swans have become a frequent sight at the Charles River Esplanade in Boston, Massachusetts. And one swan couple decided the park’s lagoon was the perfect place to raise a family.
Emma Feeney, marketing and events coordinator for the Esplanade Association, told The Dodo: 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.
Bird and wildlife lovers gathered around the nest to watch as seven cygnets hatched and were cared for by their doting parents.
They’ve kind of become celebrities in Boston over the past few weeks.
Swan couples, who typically mate for life, share parental duties during their babies’ first few weeks, taking turns feeding, protecting and keeping their cygnets warm. However, [tr.agedy st.ruck] the Charles River last Monday, when the mother swan [fe.ll i.l.l and pa.ss.ed away].
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.
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 [end.ang.ering] 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.
The city of Boston’s veterinarian examined the wild mother swan, and couldn’t determine a cause of [de.at.h].
Without his mate, the male swan has jumped into his role as a single father, doing everything he can to raise his babies right.
Thanks to their caring dad, the seven cygnets will have an excellent chance at growing up strong and finding mates of their own one day.
Sad but so sweet. Swans mate for life and are so [he.artbr.oken] when they lose their mate. Maybe the babies will keep him company for a while.
I wonder how well he would have done caring for altricial chicks.
Maybe some of them saw it here. Maybe someone’s mother saw it and told a son or brother about. Hope so…!
May God keep guiding him!