Seeing things in white...

Our majestic mute swans, of Kingfisher Pools, have made their decision on where to nest this week and settled into their breeding season.  It's always fascinating to watch them as they decide on a spot, build, sit, protect, feed and nurture their brood each year.

photo by Rick

The family have certainly had their ups and downs...big broods, no broods, kidnapping, poisoning...it's quite the soap opera here in Warwick!

The survival of cygnets to adulthood is naturally fraught with danger.  22% of baby swans die in their second week (swanlife) through bad weather, starvation, accident or predation.  In a large brood, the slowest and weakest can be judged as jeopardising the family, so may be chased away or even killed by the cob.  While sad, this is nature working as it should; keeping the mute swan population strong and self-regulated.  

Where I struggle is when human intervention effects wildlife...

Poisoning - 2014

The whole family was rescued from the pools and looked after at a sanctuary in Droitwich, while the cob was treated for lead poisoning.  Thankfully, he recovered and the pair, with their eight cygnets, were returned and had a successful year.  

Theft - 2019

This was a tragic year, when a local resident witnessed the sitting pen being lifted from her nest by a gang.  While it is possible for a male to take over and rear cygnets alone, this year the whole brood failed and the cob looked totally lost.  The local angling shop were quick to state that they haven't sold lead weights for years, it was never discovered where the poison came from.

Success - 2020

Possibly helped by Lockdown and fair weather, 2020 produced 9 cygnets - all surviving.  I'm not sure whether the old cob had found a replacement partner or whether this was a new pair, but it was heart-warming to see such a huge family after the sad year before.  

Uncertainty - 2021

This was very interesting.  On the 16th March, 8 eggs were spotted and all was well.  On the 28th March it was reported that all the eggs had disappeared.   Theories came thick and fast - predation from fox or mink?  Theft by humans?  'Bad' eggs being thrown out of the nest by the adults?  It was soon discovered, to our relief, that the eggs were absolutely fine and had just been buried under the reeds!  A clever trick by the parents, while away from their nest.  Once hatched, however, it was not such a happy story, with only two surviving cygnets by mid May, from the eight hatched.

So, what will 2022 bring in our local soap opera?  Kingfisher Pool is now busy again with anglers, joggers, dog-walkers and our little Warwick 100 team.   The swans don't seem to mind and we look forward to seeing how their family fares this year.

Lizzy

 

photo by Alan Anscomb

Seeing things in black and white

We have a celebrity here in Warwick...a handsome devil who turns heads.  A common topic of conversation around St Nicholas' Park, even the least birdy of passers-by will stop in their tracks and wonder what kind of exotic wildlife they might be witnessing.

It is, in fact, our 'pied' blackbird, who has been a regular around Kingfisher Pools for over 5 years now.  

Pic by Lizzy 

He has a genetic condition called leucism, where some of the melanin pigment is missing from his cells.  This produces his unusual mottled plumage - white feathers growing among the usual blacks.  Different to albinism, his eyes and beak remain dark...more attractive in my mind than red-eyed, somewhat cold-looking albino wildlife.  

Leucism has been found to affect one in 30,000 birds (Avianreport.com) so is pretty rare, but interestingly, a recent study by the BTO has found that blackbirds accounted for 40% of all reports of leucism.  This might have more to do with blackbirds being a) more commonly seen and b) black, so easier to spot contrasting white feathers, but that is quite the large proportion! 

A few of the Warwick 100 team have been birding in St Nicholas' Park for many years now, having seen different blackbirds with white markings in the past.  Surely that can't be coincidence? Is there a hereditary line of leucistic blackbirds going back generations?

pic by Alec

Indeed, just last year a new partially leucistic blackbird was recorded nearby.  This, along with spotting our friend earlier in the year with a beak full of worms, would suggest that his fancy plumage is certainly not holding him back from success with the ladies!

Pic by Alec

As we wait for migration to begin, and in the current absence of new additions to the 100 list, at least we can continue to enjoy our very own 'rarity'.

Lizzy