STORY BEHIND THE PHOTO OF THE WEEK:

Saturday Sept. 19, 2020: What a beautiful day! Started out calm and cold, and actually had our first heavy frost, and then it warmed to a breezy 64 degrees around 2 p.m.

I decided to check out Allamuchy Pond because I’d been wanting to take stock on the Swan Family. I have been periodically seeing them during the Spring and Summer and it looks like they have been fortunate in maintaining all their young. I have included a photo from May 3 with their six young, called cygnets, AND, I am happy to report, there are still six grown adolescent swans!  While comparing my photos, it dawned on me just how much they have grown!  It also dawned on me that this would be an enjoyable, interesting and fun follow up to my earlier story from May. 

I mentioned the word FUN hoping this article may inspire you to venture out to the pond or lake of your choice where you have seen swans and, perchance, be fortunate enough to watch their ‘flying lessons’ that are mentioned below.  It’s quite a show, a visual treat amid a NOISY background!!

Remember, swans are the heaviest birds in North America, the largest water bird and I believe the heaviest ‘flying’ bird in the world!! Weighing in at 30 pounds, five feet in body length and with a wing span of eight feet, getting into the air takes quite an effort on their part!!  Especially if you are young and don’t have all the tricks of the trade!!  Believe me, this is a totally different and unique experience, observing mom and dad teaching, training and supervising wing exercises on the water!!  There is no comparison to all the other birds, who make flight look rather effortless once they get the knack!  

NOTE:  For even a seasoned adult swan, taking off still is an effort!!  

OBSERVATION:  You do not see swans casually flying around, their flight is usually for a specific purpose!!  Flight requires energy, lots of energy for a huge swan, and in nature, wildlife utilizes energy wisely and only when needed!

DESCRIPTION of Flight Practice:  Periodically, if you are fortunate and at the right place at the right time, you will hear a great commotion on the water. It’s the swans beating their wings as a group and skirting/skimming across the top of the water!!  

They may be called Mute Swans, but believe me, they can make sound — LOUD SOUND! During their exercising and training there is a lot of honking. I don’t know if that is Mom or Dad giving instructions and encouragement or the cygnets in desperate response, but it seems everyone chimes in.

They all begin and flap their way down the water, usually all coming to a splashy stop. Then, some more honking, a brief pause, and they begin again! This training and exercise does not last a long time before they return to their gentle grazing atop the water.  

Every once in a while, you will witness one of the young doing great along with the others, and then suddenly a great premature splash and crash, if you will (almost like something tripped them) and it’s time to start all over again.

Watching them is almost like watching planes take off at the airport, gaining speed down the runway faster, faster until liftoff.  But on the day when actual flight is achieved, what a marvel! Watching these youngsters flapping and splashing their way along the water’s surface finally getting airborne, then continuing by circling over the water! It is at that point, you realize, the next generation is here. They, the cygnets, will be moving on, and Mom and Dad will await for Spring and start all over again.

Please refer to my Flickr site for more photos!

Enjoy Your Open Space

Charlie Fineran

Charlie Fineran is Allamuchy’s Director of Open Space, Allamuchy Township Environmental Commission Chairman and Allamuchy Historical Society President.