Although the Mute Swan is relatively easy to see locally with one or two birds usually present in the centre of Bakewell and at Caudwells Mill, Rowsley I think there are only one or two breeding pairs in the area.
One pair nested on the banks of the River Lathkill this year but only have one cygnet. They typically lay 5-8 eggs, but mortality is high with 50% failing to survive beyond 3 months old, but just one surviving cygnet now is not a good outcome for them.
The total number of birds in the area doesn't seem to vary much so I suspect one or two youngsters surviving to adulthood is probably typically, resulting in just 7 or 8 birds in the area most of the year.
Mute Swan - female with cygnet
No comments:
Post a Comment