I took this very amateur video of the Mute swans on the day after St Patrick's Day, 2011. It will not be very long before they'll depart to foreign shores. The Kodak 12 Mega-Pixel Easy Share C182 camera is no bigger than a large mobile phone so the quality is not 100%.
I heard in the news lately that some sixteen swans had died, so, I thus went frantically to the grand-canal to see if my old friends were still there. I was very relieved to see that they were indeed. I peeped over the Portobello Bridge, which lies on the opposite side of the road and saw that there were no swans there. I had been promising myself to venture down that side of the canal, at some time, before their departure, but I never got around to it. I'm now left wondering if the swans that died were resident in that part of the canal? I did see swans there a while ago. I shall look into it.
The swans in the video seem to settle for this particular spot to venture on to the grass area to look after their young. I don't know how they put up with the constant noise of the traffic. I know that they have very advanced hearing. Lots of people out walking continually throw bread to the swans, which is not very good for them at all. Whenever there is bread thrown at them by well meaning folk, out of nowhere, an assortment of birds such as pigeons, mallards and sea-gulls appear on the scene. A ginger cat also appeared on the scene, not knowing exactly what to make of her/his beautiful feathery white friends. Watch out for the vocal bugling or honking. A passerby told me that some of the swans were tagged.
I do hope that the ambulance with its roaring siren at the very tail-end of the video got to its destination pretty quickly and that the sick patient(s) within it recovered okay.
tagged.http://www.birdwatchireland.ie/LinkClick.aspx?link=151&tabid=970
The following is information pertaining to the swans.
Mute Swan
Cygnus olor
Eala bhalbh
Status: Resident at wetlands throughout Ireland.
Conservation Concern: Amber-listed in Ireland, as more than 20% of the European population winter in Ireland. The European population is considered to be Secure.
Identification: Large white swan, with an orange-red bill with prominent knob on the forehead, black nostrils and cutting edges.
Call: Despite the name not mute! Adults give a curious snorting or rumbling sound. Juveniles beg with high-pitched whistle. Hisses when alarmed. Does not call in flight, but a loud whisteling sound is produced by the wings.
Diet: Water plants, which these large birds can reach with their long necks at depths of up to one metre. Also graze on land and occasionally feed on small amphibians, snails and insects.
Breeding: Clutch: 4-7 eggs (1 brood) Incubation: 34-45 days. Fledging: 120-150 days (precocial). Age of first breeding: 3 years. Breeds on lakes, ponds & rivers, and nests are a large mound constructed from reed stem and other aquatic vegetation, with seaweed being used in coastal locations.
Wintering: Widespread on lakes, ponds and rivers.
Where to See: Largest wintering numbers (250-2,000 birds) found on Loughs Neagh & Beg & Upper Lough Erne in Northern Ireland, and Lough Ennell, the Shannon Callows and River Slaney in winter.
Monitored by: Irish Wetland Bird Survey (I-WeBS).
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Update:
Swans stricken with mystery illness: http://bit.ly/gchnlt from @the_irish_times
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Mute Swans, Emmet Bridge, off Harold's Cross Rd, Dublin, Ireland. Wed, 31/03/2011by MarieThereseGB125 views
Nice video, responsible and caring information. Thanks for sharing.
GoldenSeasonYT 5 months ago