Winter swan | Facts & Information

Origin

In our country it can be found in the Danube Delta, in the area of Lake Razem, nearby, and in lagoons only in winter, hence the name of the Winter Swan. Migration begins in the early days of autumn when the northern waters freeze. The population present in Romania during the winter is estimated at 2000 – 4500 Swans.

Unless threatened the Swan is a shy and withdrawn bird. In the north it is divided into three distinct groups: occidental (16,000 birds), central (60,000 birds) and oriental (16,000 birds).

They can be seen in open areas with shallow waters such as canals, reservoirs, lakes or swamps. The surface area of the water is important because it needs about 10 meters running on the water to take flight.

The Swans ' main threat is man. Habitat modification, illegal hunting or water pollution with chemicals lead to the decline and threat of the species. Fishermen's lead left in the water affects the food chain and leads to poisoning and illness of swans.

In Greek mythology Zeus disguised himself as a swan to seduce Leda, the wife of King Tyndareus. It is the national bird of Finland, printed on the one euro coin. The large waist, elegant outfit and pure white plumage determined the inclusion of the species in fairy tales and folklore.

It can be found in foreign literature under the name: the whooper swan.

Read Also the flight of birds

Feeding the Winter Swan

The winter Swan feeds mainly on vegetation in the water area, more precisely on grass, aquatic plants, grass seeds. Besides vegetation it feeds on insects, worms, mollusks, frogs, small fish etc.

From plants it feeds on buds, leaves, stem and roots. They can also be seen on the ground on the plains near the waters grazing like ducks. A mature Swan feeds on 4kg of food daily.

They are sociable birds and feed in large groups. They cannot dive, and the depth they reach is limited by the length of their neck. In the morning it travels considerable distances of km to reach the feeding places.

It also prefers areas near the Danube Delta, specifically wheat, barley and rapeseed fields.

See also bird mating

Features Winter Swan

The winter Swan has a length of 125cm, wingspan 200-240cm and weight between 8 and 12kg. The female weighs 8-10kg and the male 10-12kg. The plumage, made up of about 25,000 feathers, is white and the legs are black. The beak is yellow except for the front part which is black. The legs are black. The neck is positioned vertically, and the tail is short and blunt.

The Voice of the winter Swan is strong. He's used to vocalizing pretty loud. When it takes off it pulls out a I'm characteristic "clo-clo-clo", hence the name of the singing Swan. As I said above, he needs space to fly. The greatest effort is when it rises from the water.

That's when the swan song sounds. After it begins to rise and the flight becomes silent. When I sit in large groups the chorus that is heard as a whole is impressive. The song of this bird is symbolically declared the song of winter in the Danube Delta. Her calls are heard from miles away.

The flight is made in the shape of a" V", and during the flight the wings produce a slight rustle. Always the oldest Swans with the most experience sit in front, and the ones who have less experience or further back. Despite its weight, the winter Swan is a good flier.

The winter Swan is so large and powerful that it has no natural predator. At least not in our country.

Breeding Winter Swan

The winter Swan prefers quiet areas during the breeding season. She looks for sheltered places without natural enemies, humans or motorboats. It nests near shallow lakes. During mating periods, fights between males take place. The pair usually form a strong bond and live together for life.

Mating begins in April. Both partners build the nest and hatch the eggs. The Nest, which is large, about the size of the bird, is built of leaves, plants, feathers, twigs and mud. The nest can be used for many years if food and conditions are met, but even so it is repaired and strengthened each time. It can be up to 2m in diameter.

After building the nest, the female lays between 4 and 8 eggs, about one egg per day, which she hatches for 30-40 days. Eggs have a weight of about 330 grams. After the chicks hatch they can swim and eat immediately. In 3 months I can fly. They stay with their parents until the next breeding season, about nine months.

The color of the plumage of the offspring at birth is gray. The plumage turns white after they reach maturity, that is, starting at the age of 3 years. During the breeding season Swans are more aggressive. They don't want anyone around. Probably also due to predators that come to attack eggs or chicks (raccoons, foxes, etc.)

Life expectancy in the Wild is 8-10 years, and in captivity much higher. In the wild, if it gets sick or gets old, it can easily fall into the clutches of predators.

The longest-lived Swan lived 26 years and 6 months. Some say that the Swan lives 40 years, it is not true. We are talking about the winter Swan bird not a turtle.