Stephen Dunstan
Registered User
Forgive the slightly quirky nature of this one but I would like second opinions if possible.
For the last few days my local Whooper flock (c90 birds) has been joined by a handful of Bewick's and a Black Swan. Now the point is that this is about the fourth time in recent years I have seen Black Swans with wild swans on the Fylde in recent years. I would like to think it is the same bird, but there were two one year which rather spoils that.
What I would like to know is does anybody have any theories about why this should occur so frequently. My intuitive thought is that Black Swans would associate with Mute Swans in situations where there is a supply of free food, and this certainly happens also especially in the summer. Could it be that because Mute Swans are aggressive and territorial that Black Swans will join up with field feeding wild swans because they are more accepting?
You can wake up now!
Stephen.
For the last few days my local Whooper flock (c90 birds) has been joined by a handful of Bewick's and a Black Swan. Now the point is that this is about the fourth time in recent years I have seen Black Swans with wild swans on the Fylde in recent years. I would like to think it is the same bird, but there were two one year which rather spoils that.
What I would like to know is does anybody have any theories about why this should occur so frequently. My intuitive thought is that Black Swans would associate with Mute Swans in situations where there is a supply of free food, and this certainly happens also especially in the summer. Could it be that because Mute Swans are aggressive and territorial that Black Swans will join up with field feeding wild swans because they are more accepting?
You can wake up now!
Stephen.