A park near my home in southern Louisiana has had resident black swans for a long time and, in the past, it was common to see swan "families" in the park: mom, dad and a number of babies which would grow into adult swans. In the last few years, the population has decreased so that all that's left is one pair of what I think are younger birds. In the past three years, four eggs have hatched, and none of the babies has lived beyond three weeks--something is killing them in the night when the park is closed. During the daytime, the parents stay with the babies, but I don't know what happens when there are no humans around watching. Other birds, e.g., Canada Geese and black-bellied whistling ducks, have managed to raise their young in the park, so it's certainly possible.

Now there are two more eggs. If they hatch, the chances of the cygnets getting big enough to fend for themselves is dismal. It is heart-breaking to watch them hatch, start to develop and then disappear overnight. What do you think of taking the babies from the parents and raising them somewhere safe until they're big enough to take care of themselves?