Swans live in various parts of the world. The largest number lives in Alaska (most of these migrate south in the fall), and smaller groups live in Canada and the United States. The male, with his coal-black bill and long neck, along with his massive white wings and white body feathers, makes a very impressive figure. He is not to be tampered with. He is quick to attack another swan or animal as large as a moose, or even a person, should any get too close to his nest.
The nests may be five or six feet across and are built of cattails and other plants woven together with tough grass. Usually four to seven large, white eggs are laid by the pen (female) who incubates them for a month. During this time, when she has to leave the nest, she covers her eggs with down plucked out of her feathers or with plants pulled out of the ground. The cob (male) is almost always nearby as a guard.
After pecking and kicking their way out of their shells, the cygnets’ (chicks) wet down dries quickly, and they are soon testing out their little legs. They grow fast on the food supplied by the parents, which includes snails, insects and other water creatures as well as green water plants. Soon they are taught how to get their own food by stirring the bottom of the pond with their bills and feet, causing the food to float to the surface.
The eggs hatch in June, and the cygnets begin eating water plants when just a few days old. Soon they take to the water and by October are ready to fly. Learning how to feed doesn’t require much training, for they automatically turn their tails up in the air, like ducks, and plunge their long necks down to the bottom of the pond for their food. An adult eats about 20 pounds a day, but of course cygnets start out needing much less.
With their sparkling black eyes, custard-colored beaks and grayish-white downy feathers, cygnets make a pretty picture nesting beside the mother who is so much bigger. Families stay together through the first winter, but separate in springtime.
These beautiful and interesting birds speak of the Lord God’s interest and care over all He has created, but they cannot be expected to know the One who made them, as we do.
With all the Bible tells us of His special love for us, how wonderful it is when the Lord touches our hearts and we can say as King David did, “Cause me to hear Thy loving-kindness in the morning; for in Thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk” (Psalm 143:88Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee. (Psalm 143:8)).
MAY 31, 1998
ML-05/31/1998