Swan feathers found on beaches

Photos: Arne Ader
Translation: Liis
Moulting mute swans. Hara bay
 
Mute swan        Kühmnokk-luik    Cygnus olor    
 
On our coasts an estimated three to three and a half thousand mute swan pairs nested this year, roughly a couple of thousands of them successfully. The families keep to themselves, fending off species comrades from the own areas quite viciously with raised wings - they are not sociable birds.
 
We have had a long period of beach-going weather and with a wind from the sea some swan feathers have always been lying about on the beach sands in the mornings.
 
The graceful mute swans were brought to Europe in the 16th-17th century but they became numerous only in the first half of the 20th century.
 
Only 100 years ago they were a rarity in Estonia: in 1908 -  28 there were 2 nesting pairs in the Kuressaare bay; around Virtsu nesters were noticed in 1955. In Muhumaa, at Suuremõisa the first nesters were noted in 1959…   
 
Swan feather
 
Down


 

EST EN DE ES RU  FORUM

       

My Nature Calendar

Help to do Looduskalender.ee better - send Your observations about nature.

History