We are so pleased to see the wonderful shape the little cygnet (getting to be a BIG cygnet!) is in, and we were even happier when we heard how quickly Dr. MacDonald looked after the pinioning and what a wonderful job she did. The cygnet stayed only 1 day at Dr. MacDonald's bird hospital.

Ziggy captured Precious at the same time as the cygnet and both went to the bird hospital together. so the cygnet wouldn't be lonely, and so his parents wouldn't fail to recognize him upon his return to the Lagoon (as in the case of Tristan last year). Recalling how poorly the pinioning was done by someone else a few years ago, this is such a happy change.

Took a couple of pictures of the cygnet on the ground, standing alongside two mallard ducks, and who'd believe....he's now duck-size!

Beginning to think that the cygnet seems to behave much more like a male than a female. He's feisty, is already taking hard pecks at ducks and ducklings and is starting to explore off on his own. His parents Marlika and Precious are having quite a time keeping up with him! We hope the cygnet is a female, though, because there are only 3 females for 5 males at the Lagoon.