Cygnets are usually dispatched from the territory by the parents when they are approximately 8-10 months of age or prior to the next breeding. Usually, in the case of inclement winters, most family members will go on the migratory path to the wintering grazing areas and then will return to the nesting areas in the spring. In this case, the three cygnets may not have migrated on the migratory path, as they would have to be taught the path by the parents. In all probability, the three older cygnets are nosy and went to another nearby pond or around the lake in a nearby creek or river to investigate. They will probably return to the parents in the next several days or weeks to then travel on the migratory pattern. If they do not return to the parents at this time, they may have found another flock of younger swans and will go with them along the migratory pattern so that they can eventually find mates.

The remaining three cygnets will continue to grow and mature a little more before they will join their parents on the migratory path. Once the parents and cygnets return to the area in the spring, the juvenile swans will be chased from the area should they return and encouraged (rather strongly through nipping) by the parents to find another site to raise their own family and establish a nesting/mating/habitat territory. The Regal Swan