Swan Killing A Swan

[worrier]

Last week I was watching a swan pecking a young swan again and again on its neck and holding it down with one of its feet, it was horrifying to watch, the swan kept it up for about half an hour, thought the baby was a goner then it would lift its head and the swan would start pecking again until it looked like no life was left in it. I went away then came back later, no sign of what had happened, was it a killing or had the swan just given birth and was helping it to breathe....??

[Tilly2]

Swans don't give birth as such. They lay eggs. How would pecking it constantly and holding it down be helping it to breathe?

[boxtops]

It might have been a youngster from a different family - they are very territorial.

[andy-hughes]

worrier - as advised, swans lay eggs, and raise their cygnets to maturity. The cygnets stay with the parents until they are fully grown, which is when the reach virtually adult size and their plumage gradually changes from grey-brown to white. At this point the young fly and find their own stretch of water, where they find a mate - swans mate for life - and the process begins over.

As advised, swans are very territorial, and a male swan will not stand for another male on his territory. It looks like what you saw was the incumbent male advising an interloper to look elsewhere. Chances are the new bird got the message and has left - otherwise there would have been a carcass floating.

[boxtops]

I've just googled this question, and it seems that my suggestion is also correct - that any young swans who belong to other parents are at risk from the resident swans.

[wildwood]

What you describe sound a lot like a pair of swans mating.

[lankeela]

And you watched it for half an hour and did nothing?

[Helenafiona]

Had it just given birth? Are you serious?!!! Thankyou that has made my day!

[B00]

Not sure how involved id want to be either Lankeela!

A peed off swan can do serious damage if it sets its sights on you instead! Still, that being said, I think i'd have tried (from a distance) to make distracting noises too.

[hc4361]

They were mating

[thugulike]

I watched some very concerned Scousers in Keswick a few weeks ago running into the lake to 'rescue' a duck being 'persecuted' by a drake. They were lobbing rocks into the water and getting soaked trying to 'save' it.

[viv38]

I would have tried to help if it was at all possible. It was definitely killing it, I've witnessed it here on the river near where I live and sadly they were too far away for anyone to reach and help. It was horrendous. Some swans are very aggressive and territorial.

thugulike, I've seen people trying to save female ducks before as it's awful when they mate, several ducks are trying to mate her all at once and the female keeps disappearing under water.

[EcclesCake]

As difficult as it is to observe I don't think we should intervene in nature.

[viv38]

Good for you, but I will if I can ......

[Frank97]

I've witnessed duck rape on a lawn once, it was, to say the least, violent. By the look of it, swans aren't exactly gentle either.

[EcclesCake]

What is anthropomorphising going to achieve?

[andy-hughes]

Ecclescake - "What is anthropomorphising going to achieve?"

Nothing - but it's human nature.

That's why everyone is up in arms when seal pups are killed, because they have huge eyes and look cuddly - the reality is, if you tried to cuddle one you'd loose your fingers!

That's also why - at the other end of the scale - no-one (well I do!) objects to less-than-attractive life forms being abused and eaten alive for entertainment on national TV.

[pixie373]

I don't like that, either, Andy. But I'm not a vegetarian any more, so can't protest too much.

[andy-hughes]

pixie373 - "I don't like that, either, Andy. But I'm not a vegetarian any more, so can't protest too much."

I think you can.

Killing animals for food does present a defendable position, ill-treating and eating animals alive for entertainment does not.

[pixie373]

Perhaps, although i was perfectly healthy without meat for 15 plus years, so i made the choice...

[viv38]

andy re. your last para. at 08.38 today, this is the main reason I will not watch I'm a Celebrity !