Hello,
I recently moved to a cove on a 550 acre lake that has a few pair of trumpet as well as mute swans. Since June, I have been visited by "Carl," whom I believe is a male. Occassionally, he will disappear for several weeks at a time, and then I will see one of the swan pairs in the cove. If Carl is in the cove, and another pair arrives, Carl is immediately run off. Approx. 6 weeks ago, another lone mute, "Bella," arrived-I have no idea if Bella is a male or female. Now Carl is also back, and he and Bella fight for territory. I do feed them, and I have tried to do so simultaneously when they are both present, but Carl won't have it! Therefore, since it's winter and the lake has been frozen, I've resorted to feeding Bella in the yard and Carl at the shoreline. As soon as Carl eats just a little, he will come into the yard and chase Bella from the food. She retreats until he begins roaming the cove, and then will go back to the food. When my food isn't present, they will sometimes both take naps on my lawn, approx. 30 feet apart. Do you have any suggestions as to how I may encourage them to co-exist? I love having them around! I'm even hoping that a nice bond may form since neither of them has a mate. Thank you!