The female may not have anything to do with this as much as nature has the control. Yes, this is how new flocks start when a mate has died or left and no one else is left to carry on. If the young bird is a male, it may eventually stay and mate with its own mother to start another flock. Female swans are more likely to re-pair once a mate has died. Males will usually go about their lives with or without re-pairing.

If they are starting the heart shaped mating ritual, this would be a good indicator that the young male has now taken its male parent's role. Research states that it usually takes 3 years for the swans to become adults. However, in our own research and observations, swans begin to practice mating at 1 year of age and are able to produce eggs at 2 years of age.

Another question that may now be asked is whether there will be any genetic anamolies (birth defects) from this inbreeding. In mammals, this would be a great concern, but in birds, it is not. If there are genetic defects, it usually takes a couple of years before they manifest themselves. If they should appear immediately, then there is still no cause for alarm because nature will not allow the young to survive and just because there are birth defects one year does not mean that there will be continually throughout the parent's mating lives. In any case, everything should be just fine as nature will rule and control the situation. The Regal Swan