Ask the Swan Specialist

Re: Trumpeter swan transporting young in flight?
By:The Regal Swan
Date: 9 July 2014

Hi Reta:

Are you sure that you do not have a family in your area? Swans can nest in areas that you may not be able to see and then, once the cygnet is able to swim (24 hours after hatching), the parents will take them on open water.

Normally, swans can carry their cygnets (babies) on their back during swimming. If there is a creek or small stream, the swans could have come from the other pond into your area by swimming and walking while carrying the cygnet. They do not carry the young on their back while flying and the only explanation was that there was a nest in your area that was not seen or the stream scenario. Also, typically, the swan parents will not move the young cygnets from their normal nesting area until they have grown significantly. The only reasons for moving a cygnet a great distance, which could be disastrous, would be that a predator or something else appeared in the nesting area and disturbed/scared the parents or the food source was not sufficient to maintain the cygnets. Again, this would be a totally drastic measure as the cygnets could be predated, lost or stressed when being moved such a great distance. The Regal Swan

Messages In This Thread

Trumpeter swan transporting young in flight? -- Reta -- 8 July 2014
Re: Trumpeter swan transporting young in flight? -- Reta -- 20 June 2015
Re: Trumpeter swan transporting young in flight? -- The Regal Swan -- 20 June 2015
Re: Trumpeter swan transporting young in flight? -- The Regal Swan -- 9 July 2014