Seven Swans A Swimming

The Magnificent 7 Bybrook swans are thriving.

The pen and the cob have successfully reared the four cygnets in the family group through adolescence into adulthood. As the cygnets reach maturity, with their full white livery, the parents will no doubt soon be encouraging them off to pasture new.

It has been a joy to watch the family grow from the tiny bundle of fluff of the early Spring…….

….. into the magnificent swans they have become.

Hissing Sid who had to be cared for in a sanctuary, is also thriving.  Long since out of  round the clock care, Sid is enjoying a stretch of water with other rescued fowl and is also stretching his wings ready to take off when he is ready.

It is very unusual for all cygnets in a family group to survive to maturity. (Our own witness over the years bears this out and is an opinion confirmed by the Swan sanctuary)

Attrition is caused by predation and harassment by other creatures and wildlife, together with disease and natural causes.

Working together with the local community and landowners has meant that the protective corridor along Bybrook has provided a safe space in which the swans have been able to thrive unmolested and the increased vegetation along the banks has provided a rich and varied food source.

The continued work by Wiltshire Wildlife Trust together with local farmers is improving the viability and water quality of the Bybrook.

Local landowners have successfully persuaded the electricity company SSE to replace and improve the number of bird flight diverters along the power lines to make the flight path of the swans less hazardous.

Together, our community can look forward with confidence to a new family of swans beginning their journey along the Bybrook in 2022.