A pair of adult mail swans have set up a nest together at the Abbotsbury Swannery in Dorset. Apparently they have been together for several nesting seasons and keep territory as if they are a nesting pair. The twosome flock together at the start of the nesting season in March and perform rituals associated with a breeding couple.
Swannery Manager John Houston said:
The swans have been nesting together like this for several years and they get together every nesting season and form a nest together.
They sit on the nest and act in every way as if they were a pair expecting to lay eggs.
It's thought they are only the second instance of two male swans pairing up at the reserve
Fascinating story Pete.
ReplyDeleteThe Australian Black Swan is known to indulge in this sort of behaviour too.
sweet!
ReplyDeleteShame they cant give them a couple of eggs (or an orphan chick)to raise - like they do for the male pair of Flamingoes - they raise a youngster each year- very good parents they are...mind I wouldn't want to be the keeper who had to get an egg away from an Swan!
ReplyDeleteC