Swan Lake

Mute swans can be found swanning around in this vicinity in large groups. I would think that there are several hundred living within 10 miles of my postcode. In the whole of the UK, it is estimated there are about 25,000 Mutes which over-winter in this country.

There is something special about swans - they are large birds and are very graceful on water. Somewhat less so when they lumber onto the river bank. But art and music has used this bird many times over the centuries. We are all familiar with Tchaikovsky's ballet and Saint Saens movement of his Carnival of the Animals. The Ugly Duckling by Hans Christian Anderson was of course a swan.

But do these birds really have their swan song? Anyone who has perhaps come too close to one of them, especially while nesting, will know they have a warning 'hiss' which usually has the required effect, but they never do sing - even when they are dying. So their song will remain forever all but a folk tale.