2012-05-14 - Swans Make Lake Rosalind Their Home

It has been many years since the residents of our lake have had the pleasure of watching a loon family raising their young, but this past summer we had a new family making a home here.

• On April 14, 2011, Lake Rosalind residents had two Mute Swans visit our lake and within a week they were nesting on the small island at the north end. The female did not venture far or often from the island and her six eggs, while the male was very busy keeping the geese from coming too close to their nest.
• After much anticipation by many of the residents, 5 of the 6 eggs hatched on June 4th. Unfortunately, on June 7th, the first of four loses to the family came as one of the young was discovered dead in the nest. The second loss came on June 22nd, when a snapping turtle did some major damage to the young one's leg and it did not survive.
• On July 4th, a third cygnet met with tragedy as a mink snuck out from under a dock, grabbed it and carried it away.
• By mid October, the two remaining young were flying with the parents which was a sight to see.
• On approximately December 20th, the smallest of the young was chased away and tormented by the rest of the family, which is something that occurs as the young mature and food supplies dwindle.
• On December 24th, the smaller of the remaining 2 sygnets was very weak and was captured and relocated to the Sulphur Springs Conservation Park, where unfortunately it died about a week later.
• By January 7th, 2012, there was very little open water left for the birds to feed.
• On January 14th, the remaining three swans left the lake.

The 2 adult swans have returned to Lake Rosalind in the Spring of 2012. Upon arrival, they socialized with familiar lake residents and have begun to nest on the North Island. It will be interesting to watch their family grow once again with another summer ahead of them.

By Bill Dallner