There is a family of mute swans (2 adults and 7 cygnets: 6 dark color and 1 white ) living on the shore of the Long Island Sound between Whitestone and Bayside Queens- NYC. The cygnets are between 2 and 3 months old and are almost adult size. I've been observing the family since the cygnets were small. A few days ago, I saw one of the parents moving in the water with the only white cygnet-- far away from the beach where the others were resting and preening. Then the white cygnet seemed to disappear for a day (yesterday). Today, the white cygnet was back near the family in the water, but it was getting picked at and chased away by its parents and siblings. It was not allowed to get on the shore with the others to preen and sun itself, but stayed in the water. Do you know why this might be happening? Should this cygnet be rescued?

Can it survive on its own if it is driven away by its parents?To the naked (human) eye, it appears to be healthy.