SOME HISTORY OF THE WOODLAKE SWANS

We recently stumbled upon an article archived years ago, posted by the Woodlake Birders…a community social club that I believe still exists today.  It was authored in about 1996 by our neighbor Lois Frazell.  There are still truly noble individuals in Woodlake and Lois ranks among them.  Our first meeting with Lois  was several years ago in our back yards bordering the water puddle that was once the lake.  We were the new neighbors.  Her pair of resident Swans had again made an appearance after a long absence.   There was great joy in “Mudville”.

 

HERE IS LOIS’S ARTICLE

In 1982, Wildlife officers brought two injured and abused Mute Swans to Frank Trampus, Woodlake resident, for care. The Trampuses had fenced in an area down into the lake as a safe haven for Swans they had owned previously.

Frank hand fed Lyda (a ‘pen”) and Gabriel (a “cob”), nursed their wounds, and kept them safely penned until they recovered. When they were set free, the swans chose to remain right here. Since then, Lyda and Gabriel, and their offspring have graced Woodlake with unsurpassed charm. Three babies (cygnets) survived in 1993, one male and two females, in 1995, again, three cygnets survived, two male and one female. Their now mature offspring have also remained at Woodlake.

 

By 1996, two of the 1993 offspring had paired and tried to nest back near the old homestead, but Lyda and Gabriel kept chasing them away (even though their own eggs this year were infertile). For this reason, by the time the young pair selected a nesting site (at the end of Cedar Point), they were late in breeding. Cygnets are normally born in mid-May. This new family was not born until June 19. Again, three cygnets survived. As of this writing, this family has remained in that basic area.

Both swans build the nest. Only when the pen is satisfied with the nest will she mate with the cob. Usually, between three and seven eggs are laid (Lyda usually lays eight). They are laid at two-day intervals with incubation starting with the last egg and taking about 35 days. The young are downy and grey when born, gradually change to brown feathers, then to white when full grown.
Mute Swans are a docile breed, though parents of the young are very protective. All mature swans lose their feathers (molt) near the end of July. Frank explained to me that this is nature’s way of making sure Mom and Dad stay close to their babies (that do not have their own ability to fly). In the fall, the babies get “flying feathers”, and Mom and Dad, and all the other swans, get new feathers. The cob begins to force the young out on their own when they are about a year old. That is when they need to find a “territory” of their own.

Frank is currently working with a veterinarian in Raleigh to determine the best way to regulate future mating and population control.

Swans love to eat hydrilla. It is fun to watch parents teach their young to do the same. I feed them deer corn and ol’Roy dog food from Wal-mart (wish I owned stock in it). Frank prefers “laying pellets” which can be purchased at Edwards Hardware in Vass. He said the babies love lettuce. Of course, be sure whatever you feed them is fresh and not moldy. I try to feed only the swans, and do not throw handfuls of food out which also attract those pesky turtles that annoy the swans (and me). Frank has designated a feeder that has to sit up on land but keeps ducks and turtles from eating. He will be happy to advise any residents that wish to help feed and care for the swans.

 

Swans have become an important part of what is special about Woodlake. It is hoped that they will be treated with love and respect by all.

 

Special thanks to Frank for the “inside information” for the article, and especially for sharing the beauty and elegance of the eight mature and three precious new baby swans on the lake.

Lois Frazelle  1996