I thought you might like to know that the breeding pair of Mute Swans here in Waterford, Ireland (I see someone posted from Waterford,Michigan!) had 7 cygnets this year. I first spotted them on the 8th of June, a week earlier than last year, but later than the year before. I've tried weaning them onto lettuce without much success, I think they had been fed bread already! They are a delight, the Cob and The Pen bring them over to me to feed them, last year, when they were a little older,the Cob let me feed two of them by hand, his only concern was that they getting the bread instead of him and he would grab it from my hand! He didn't even hiss at me. I've noticed that he will take bread I throw in the water, whereas the Pen will let the cygnets have it.