Mute Swans (Cygnus olor)

Oh dear. I don't think I'm getting the hang of 'regular blog updates' - although I am trying. Currently working full time in a job I did part-time when I was 16, so I've been feeling a little sorry for myself lately. GIVE ME A ZOOLOGY JOB ANYONE!!! Please, thank you. Preferably involving cheetahs. Merci.

I have been so wrapped up in my little bubble of 'legendary customer care' and 'advantages of owning an advantage card' that nature has well and truly slipped from my grasp. I saw a little grey squirrel foraging amongst the trees in the car park where my flat is and it hit me how much I miss watching wildlife. The car park is visited by cats, birds, squirrels and foxes and I really need to start taking advantage of that rather than my job at Boots.

Apart from stalking my furry little neighbouring mammal (no, not the guy across the hall, the squirrel), I feed the swans at a nearby park. They are Mute Swans to be precise and during the summer, mum and dad conceived and successfully reared six beautiful cygnets. I remember sitting in the car, the first time I saw them. Six little feathery grey blobs following mum, one behind the other, while dad watched their six, while eyeing up any boisterous yellow-legged gull who flew too close to his precious family.

The swans, during the first month or so of the cygnets hatching, were extremely wary of swimming too close to the public so close up views of hatchlings were, understandably, hindered. One night, while moping about the flat in boredom and with half a loaf of bread a day out of date, the idea of feeding the ducks and swans popped into my head. So off I went, armed with Hovis bread and my Blackberry.The park was pitch black, the normally pretty pond, looked ominous in the moonlight. Walking about 30 feet from the car, I was greeted by an exciting sight. The little swan family were camped out on the dock, snuggled together to conserve body heat. Now, I say 'greeted', but as a little squeal of excitement left my lips, 6 pairs of black eyes popped open and 6 long, smooth beaks turned in my direction. "Bread." I stated, shaking the bag for emphasis, trying to appear reassuring. A long, angry hiss and expansion of those magnificent wings was my reply.

By this time, the babies were half the size of their parents, their feathers a lighter shade of grey to what I had seen before. I eventually won them over and they pigged out on their midnight snack. Their hisses, soon became cute little squeaks of joy at receiving a late night treat. For 'mute' swans, they are anything but - the offspring anyway! Mum and dad just kept a careful eye on their family while grabbing a couple of bits of bread for themselves.

For someone, stuck stocking shelves and getting minimum wage, a day (or should I say a night) at the park feeding swans by hand is like a safari trip studying lions. Excitement took over. The idea that I could go to the park and get closer to the little family than the public get during the day, made me feel like I had stumbled on a secret that only I knew about. Okay, I know it's not that exciting, but leave me alone, it makes me happy.

This soon became a weekly occurrence and it was great to spend even 10 minutes feeding them and getting to see the babies grow. I went last night, and all six cygnets are now the same size as their parents and only little grey flecks of colour distort their white-as-snow bodies. They're awesome.

I need to get pictures of them. My phone is McRubbish in the dark. Make do with one I nabbed from Google.

Some facts about the Mute Swan. They were introduced to western Europe and Britain by the Romans, but are originally from Asia and parts of eastern Europe. The population in Britain has increased to about 25,000 pairs which is more than a fifth of the European population. During the summer, when the female will lay eggs, both members of the pair build a nest, typically on an island in a gravel pit or by a pond. The huge eggs are laid every 48 hours and incubation only starts when the clutch is complete. The hen broods them, though her mate sits on the nest while she is away feeding. As soon as the young hatch they can swim, and the parents defend them fiercely against predators. The cygnets fledge between 120 - 150 days.

The swan family make my little zoology heart sing and it really just drives me to get a job I know I will enjoy. Nature really is the best solution if you're feeling down or out of sorts. Watch the birds in your back garden or take your dog for a walk. It's my medicine and I recommend it to everyone. Feed the birds......Tuppence a bag. Go to.