Wednesday Wings - Mute Swan

Several miles from our house is a state fish hatchery boasting all sorts of protected nature, nice walking paths, and water, water, water. Leashed dogs are allowed.

Yesterday Glory and I celebrated the sunny, warm - 60 degrees felt warm to us! - weather by talking a fish hatchery walk.


This Mute Swan appeared to be guarding a nest, but the nest wasn't visible from the angle we approached.


There it is!

Looks like eggs have been laid.

Incubation is a little over a month. The cygnets are pushed out into the water the same day they're hatched, so it shouldn't be difficult to see them when they're still very little.


It takes three years for a Mute Swan to reach full growth and reproductive maturity. They can live up to 25 years. Average life expectancy is 11 years.

These are last year's cygnets. Their head is not the bright white of mature adults and their bill hasn't yet turned orange.