SWANS IN ENGLAND

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 February 1937, Page 3

SWANS IN ENGLAND

LARGE POPULATION. • ' If is believed tjiat the white swan was introduced into England' by King Richard I, when he imported a few pairs from. Cyprus, writes Oliver G. Pihe, F.Z.S., in the “News Chronicle.” By an act of King Edward I, no one but the King’s son was allowed to keep a swan unless possessed of five marks; destroying their eggs was to be punished by, imprisonment for a year and a day, or at the King’s will. So far as I know, this Act has not been repealed. Fifty years ago this royal bird was found in Britain only in parks, on tjie big estates, and Ph one or twp rivers. But the - birds, having few enemies, brought up large families, and as fhey live to a good age—forty ay fifty years—they increased to such -hn extent that nowadays there are few large tracts of water without one or more nests. On some reservoirs we see flocks pf fifty or more in autumn, and tjie npise of their wings can be heard for half a mile.

During the nesting season, nearly all birds live in territories of their own choosing, and the wild swan is very jealous of his domain, which may cover four or five acres of water. While the hen is sitting he will attack any strange swan that may dare to enter his territory. A fight between two male swans is an exciting affair; it is difficult to see all that is going on owing to the great splashing, but there js no doubt that the defeated bird gets a severe drubbing. It would be a bold person who would venture near a nest while the hen is covering her eggs, that is if her mate is in sight. Last.spring I was filming a female swan as she protected her eggs, but I had to make a quick getaway, for the male, swimming about on the water three hundred yards distant, saw that there was a supposed enemy near their home. I Spreading his wings, he came across the lake, landed just behind me, and followed me on to the land, hissing loudly, and beating the grass with his pinions. This nest was attacked later by three boys, ■who threw large stones at the birds, and although the male had a gaping wound and a broken leg, he continued to shield his mate. Fortunately the culprits were caught and punished. The swans did not desert their home, although all but three out of seven eggs were broken. Two young were reared.