Breeding Success At Stryt Las

A pair of swans that live on the lake at Stryt Las park have proved themselves very able parents.

Visitors to the park noticed the pair sitting on a large nest that they had built on the far side of the lake during the spring. In early summer a total of six cygnets had hatched. During the summer months the pen and cob (mum and dad) kept a close eye on their young, always ensuring that they were close by, safe and well fed.

The cygnets which were light brown in colour have steadily increased in size until they are now almost as large as their parents. Over the last few weeks a transformation has occurred with the young swans developing their white plumage.

Now that the cygnets are young swans, it is expected that the parents will probably chase their offspring away from Stryt Las. The six young swans will most likely find a flock to join in another area, but may return to their parents and Stryt Las in future years.

The wildfowl that live on the lake at Stryt Las are wild birds that are free to come and go as they please, so don’t be alarmed if all or some of the swans are no longer there. The swans and ducks often fly to other ponds, to return at a later date.

Park Rangers strongly recommend you do not feed swans and ducks as feeding them encourages them to be less fearful of people which makes them more vulnerable, especially to dogs.