What a great website. Very informative. We have for the second year a family of swans nesting on our dock in long beach ny. Last year 6 eggs were laid. One rolled into the water, 5 eggs hatched(4 in one day the other the next day). The egg that hatched a day late -the cygnet was a little weaker and was always behind and eventually there were 4 remaining and we watched them all summer.

This year the male and female were back builduing a very large nest and 6 eggs were laid. Don't recall exact dates but it seemed early. Last saturday one egg hatched and he went into the water, but was having trouble getting back on dock and it appeared the dad wasnt too helpful and actually may have drowned the baby. At that point there were 5 eggs and yesterday I noticed another egg had opened but looks like a yolk, yellow. Do you know why all eggs havent hatched and why the first baby didnt survive. will the 4 remaing eggs be ok?

A local website covered the story at www.longbeachpatch.com

Erik Marghella