Reserva Ecológica Costanera Sur

Sitio realizado por aficionados a la observación de aves desde 10 de enero 2006

The lost cygnet



This story took place in the Coypu Pond in 2007. This small-sized pond let us follow up two families of coscoroba swans which had settled with a week difference. As females incubated males looked after their area without major problems. Time came when the first pair A had 7 cygnets and a week later pair B had only two. They took their respective cygnets to eat keeping distance one from the other.
For some unknown reason personnel staff of the reserve crossed the pond in a boat from the embankment to the wall. Human presence caused a stir. After this moment of tension we see one of the adults A attack a cygnet with the bill as if trying to bite it and pushes the cygnet to one side. We could not understand such a behaviour towards the cygnet. The other adult A gathered the rest of the cygnets and guided them away from the scene.
Coscoroba Swan
29-08-07 © Roberto Ares
Coscoroba Swan
29-08-07 © Roberto Ares
Coscoroba Swan
29-08-07 © Roberto Ares
Coscoroba Swan
29-08-07 © Roberto Ares

The adult A with the cygnet swam parallel to the coast at full speed to the extent that it was difficult for the cygnet to keep up with it. The adult A looked backwards, vocalized as if encouraging the cygnet to swim faster. Still we could not understand what was happening. Then the adult A stopped and abandoned the cygnet. As it moved away, it bumped into adult B and fought. Peckings and kicks solved the fight being B the winner.
29-08-07 © Roberto Ares
Meanwhile the cygnet swam in circles emitting voices. Then we realized that this cygnet belonged to family B. In the photo bills are encircled to show the difference in size.
Coscoroba Swan
29-08-07 © Roberto Ares
Coscoroba Swan
29-08-07 © Roberto Ares
We spent minutes of anxiety watching the lost cygnet till its family came to rescue it. Fortunately a happy ending and each family came back to its place.
Coscoroba Swan
29-08-07 © Roberto Ares
Coscoroba Swan
29-08-07 © Roberto Ares
Coscoroba Swan
29-08-07 © Roberto Ares
Family B. Together
Coscoroba Swan
29-08-07 © Roberto Ares
Family A. The female took all her cygnets to a safe place