!!!!!!!!MISSING!!!!!!!!
Female Swan Is Missing From Lochside Pond.
Swan went missing between 3pm and 5:30pm on Wednesday Feb 18.
Please report if you have information as to why/how this swan went missing.
Perhaps you were driving/walking by the pond at this time and saw something?
Any help will be appreciated.
FOWLNC@bellsouth.net
________________________________
Reported Swan Sightings:
Thanks to all who responded with
warm felt news of 2 sightings of the missing swan.
Report One:
Lone Swan was sighted at the Big Lake near Lochside drive.
Report Two:
"Most Encouraging/Revealing"
Lone Swan was sighted at the Lower Pond between Lochside and Wood Lily on the day it went missing. It is believed the swan had walked from the Upper Pond to the Lower Pond and then to the Big Lake on the day that it went missing.
Question is Why?
This female swan has never before left her mate in the many years that they were together?
The mate still remains at the upper pond awaiting her return. We think that he did not follow her because he is protecting his turf from being taken by others.
Many thanks to those who expressed concerns and best wishes for the female swan and her mate.
Sunday AM Feb 22:
Male swan has left the Lochside Pond to meet up with his female partner on the Big Lake?
There was an extra pair of swans spotted across the Big Lake
from Lochside Drive. It is believed to be the same pair from Lochside Pond. Because the usual pair were spotted at the same time near Lochmere Drive. So we now have two pair of swans at the Big Lake and none at Lochside Pond? If anyone gets a closer look the male swan has a "Chipped Beak" caused by fishing hooks in the summer of 2008.
Feb 24 Pm
The Lochside swans were sighted near the Cary Parkway end of the Big Lake. They probably will return to the Lochside Pond when the weather warms up. The icy pond probably wasn't giving them the freedom to mate. They usually go thru a mating ritual about this time of year and start building their nest during the month of March in time to lay eggs at the end of March and then hatching cygnets by the end of April. Sadly the cygnets will not make it thru the month of May due to predators and such. Two summers ago we almost had one, that was four months old, make it thru the summer; but it got sick and died from ingesting lead fishing pellets. She was taken to an animal hospital by Cary Animal Control, where her blood was tested and found to have high levels of lead content. They have yet to have a successful cygnet since they've been together.
Interesting to note is, ie. last summer, of the 3 pair of swans at Lochmere lakes/pond and a total of 15 hatched cygnets - none survived the summer. Here's wishing them better luck this year.
"Stay tuned for continued coverage"
Feb25
Both sighted at Big Lake near Lower Pond
Feb26
Male decided to reside at Lower Pond between Lochside and Wood Lily. Assume female is at Big Lake.
Feb27
Male at Lower Pond and assume female at Big Lake
Feb 28
Male at Lower Pond and female is spotted at Big Lake near Lower Pond. Which one will yield and meet up with the other?
Mar1
Male has worked his way back to Upper Pond. Assume female is still at the Big Lake.
Mar2
Male is back at Upper Pond. Female was spotted at Cary Parkway end of Big Lake
Mar3
Welcome Back
Back together again at upper pond
Mar16
Let's Build a Nest!
Nest Building Has Started
Mar29
Sunday AM
Sad to report the swans were run off their nest by yard workers with loud leaf blowers and mowers.
As of 7:30pm they have yet to return to the nest.
Mar30
After working two+ weeks on a nest blown away by yard workers. The swans have started a 2nd nest away from the 1st.
The 2nd nest may not be available in time for egg laying.
It takes timing to build a robust nest in time for egg laying.
Hopefully the new nest is sufficient.
May10
Sad to report Lochside Swan's will not be hosting any cygnets this year due to nest destruction by area landscapers.
A second nest was attempted but was unsuccessful. The female finally gave up on the second nest.
Another pair of swans at Lochmere's small lake started out with six cygnets about a week ago. However, all six were picked off by area predators/other. All six gone within a period of one week? The last three went missing in one day.
"Stay tuned for continued converage"
June24
A Blue Heron with a fishing lure/string hanging from its head was observed at the small lake about a week ago.
________________________________
Reported Swan Sightings:
Thanks to all who responded with
warm felt news of 2 sightings of the missing swan.
Report One:
Lone Swan was sighted at the Big Lake near Lochside drive.
Report Two:
"Most Encouraging/Revealing"
Lone Swan was sighted at the Lower Pond between Lochside and Wood Lily on the day it went missing. It is believed the swan had walked from the Upper Pond to the Lower Pond and then to the Big Lake on the day that it went missing.
Question is Why?
This female swan has never before left her mate in the many years that they were together?
The mate still remains at the upper pond awaiting her return. We think that he did not follow her because he is protecting his turf from being taken by others.
Many thanks to those who expressed concerns and best wishes for the female swan and her mate.
Sunday AM Feb 22:
Male swan has left the Lochside Pond to meet up with his female partner on the Big Lake?
There was an extra pair of swans spotted across the Big Lake
from Lochside Drive. It is believed to be the same pair from Lochside Pond. Because the usual pair were spotted at the same time near Lochmere Drive. So we now have two pair of swans at the Big Lake and none at Lochside Pond? If anyone gets a closer look the male swan has a "Chipped Beak" caused by fishing hooks in the summer of 2008.
Feb 24 Pm
The Lochside swans were sighted near the Cary Parkway end of the Big Lake. They probably will return to the Lochside Pond when the weather warms up. The icy pond probably wasn't giving them the freedom to mate. They usually go thru a mating ritual about this time of year and start building their nest during the month of March in time to lay eggs at the end of March and then hatching cygnets by the end of April. Sadly the cygnets will not make it thru the month of May due to predators and such. Two summers ago we almost had one, that was four months old, make it thru the summer; but it got sick and died from ingesting lead fishing pellets. She was taken to an animal hospital by Cary Animal Control, where her blood was tested and found to have high levels of lead content. They have yet to have a successful cygnet since they've been together.
Interesting to note is, ie. last summer, of the 3 pair of swans at Lochmere lakes/pond and a total of 15 hatched cygnets - none survived the summer. Here's wishing them better luck this year.
"Stay tuned for continued coverage"
Feb25
Both sighted at Big Lake near Lower Pond
Feb26
Male decided to reside at Lower Pond between Lochside and Wood Lily. Assume female is at Big Lake.
Feb27
Male at Lower Pond and assume female at Big Lake
Feb 28
Male at Lower Pond and female is spotted at Big Lake near Lower Pond. Which one will yield and meet up with the other?
Mar1
Male has worked his way back to Upper Pond. Assume female is still at the Big Lake.
Mar2
Male is back at Upper Pond. Female was spotted at Cary Parkway end of Big Lake
Mar3
Welcome Back
Back together again at upper pond
Mar16
Let's Build a Nest!
Nest Building Has Started
Mar29
Sunday AM
Sad to report the swans were run off their nest by yard workers with loud leaf blowers and mowers.
As of 7:30pm they have yet to return to the nest.
Mar30
After working two+ weeks on a nest blown away by yard workers. The swans have started a 2nd nest away from the 1st.
The 2nd nest may not be available in time for egg laying.
It takes timing to build a robust nest in time for egg laying.
Hopefully the new nest is sufficient.
May10
Sad to report Lochside Swan's will not be hosting any cygnets this year due to nest destruction by area landscapers.
A second nest was attempted but was unsuccessful. The female finally gave up on the second nest.
Another pair of swans at Lochmere's small lake started out with six cygnets about a week ago. However, all six were picked off by area predators/other. All six gone within a period of one week? The last three went missing in one day.
"Stay tuned for continued converage"
June24
A Blue Heron with a fishing lure/string hanging from its head was observed at the small lake about a week ago.
