Swans on Gillan Creek

Following on from the delight last year of having the first cygnet on Carne Creek for many a long year (if ever!), he sadly died from dog-attack wounds, despite valiant efforts to save him, when he was a few months old. However, following the success of Joy Ferguson's 'swan upping' - in this case meaning the raising of the nesting area on their preferred island - it was decided to construct a more permanent nesting area on the little island, complete with a stone ramp, sufficiently high to be above the highest spring tides - which proved on measurement to need another two feet above the natural level of the island.

Materials were bought, thanks to several kind benefactors, and a valiant team of volunteers (I'm not sure that 'volunteer' is quite the accurate word?!) in early January 2003, managed to co-ordinate tide, weather and manpower, to build a wooden structure, in-filled with mud and stone.

After which, all we could do was wait. It began to look as if the swans would scorn our attempts to help, showing no apparent interest in the island, let alone the raised platform. However, to our absolute delight, on Tuesday 15th April, there they were, with one egg laid already! Subsequently more eggs were laid, with much local excitement and messages going to and fro regarding the latest number of eggs counted! When about six eggs were recorded, the female started to sit more or less constantly, with 'dad' in close watch, fiercely chasing off any ducks coming too close. We estimated the hatching would be about the end of May or early June.

On 29th May there was great excitement - two cygnets were reported! Followed the next morning by the report of six, and later seven cygnets! We could now feel our efforts were vindicated, and the swans hadn't let us down by refusing to use our platform, despite its rather prominent position. On the contrary, one quite got the impression the swans rather fancied their aerial viewpoint!

Many admirers came to watch the swans and cygnets having their first outings on the creek, firstly only in the shallow water at low tide, but swimming at high tide within a few days. Both parents being fully involved, and very caring.

Regrettably they didn't all survive, only two surviving to adulthood. Of the original seven, all were perfectly healthy, but two (we think) got washed away at one week old, when there was bad weather and a high tide. Two more disappeared the following week or so, possibly gulls, and another one vanished shortly after, maybe fox. We don't think it was any dogs this year, since there was no 'evidence' of any sort left. Sadly Nature will take its course, but it has been very pleasant to have watched these two growing up with their caring parents.

The latest news is that the parent birds have chased their 'teenagers' away, so we are hoping that our island will be seeing more babies this year!

Prue Towner

Extract from HVMCA newsletter No.28 Spring 2004