Precious and Marlika introduced “Junior” to the main lagoon for the first time yesterday, not counting the 15-minute preview they gave us earlier this month. It was fun to watch his delight in checking out new possibilities as Mom and Dad hovered anxiously, with a running narrative of little swan sounds especially reserved for Baby.

They showed up in the same place again this morning, and as the group of onlookers increased, Precious simply could not resist putting on one of his displays of triumph. No sooner had his last snort faded and wings folded than Junior, in perfect imitation of Dad, beat his tiny wings which, at this point, are about the size of a small butterfly’s. His pride, though, was right up there with Dad’s!

He was quite serious in listening to his parents' advice out in the wider world