Edited to add (May 30, 2010): I received a note from Cathy who objected to my characterization of swans as territorial. You can read her full objection in the comments below, along with my response.
Mute Swans (Cygnus olor) are known to be territorial. It’s often just one couple (and their young offspring) occupying a body of water. This photo was shot in Petaluma, along with a slew of additional Mute Swan image. I just never posted this one. At the time of photographing, a swan pair was mentoring their brood — a group of active juveniles, swimming, foraging and flying loops overhead around the park. You can see some of those earlier swan photos here.
This parent swan took issue with the duck’s proximity — a Blue-winged Teal dabbling in the pond with her Blue-winged mates.
Territorial Mute Swan - ©ingridtaylar
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Before you label mute swan to be territorial, you should do your homework, I have spent many hours for three years watching the Swans as well as the Canadian Geese, For the most part most of them leave before winter and come back in the spring to nest, I have documented them before nesting and the only time they are territorial according you is when the female is nesting, or when the babies have hatched, and it is only the swans, it all the birds small and large, I actually spent one year from February to October documenting the birds, thousands of pictures of the swans, canadians and others protecting their young, and you label it territorial , well yes in a way, but a good way they are protecting their mate and their young, I hear people say oh they are not hear, when we live with people from all over the world, you should get your facts right before you start saying things that you do not know, we have trees that are not from this area, what should we do cut them all down, of course not, we learn how we can use them, with a drought we use plants and trees that do not need too much water like Palms, and they are not from here, I feel blessed that I can go to wetlands and see all of the beautiful wildlife, where they come from I do not care, they are beautiful and I love them.
Dear Cathy,
I do hope you return to this spot, because I would be happy to hear more of your thoughts — and have a more thorough discussion about swans. I enjoy the swans in Petaluma and feel utterly privileged to be in their midst, photographing them. I am sorry the context of this one post and photograph gave the wrong impression to you. The swan was, indeed, behaving in a territorial fashion in that one instant. Many birds, including swans, exhibit some territorial behavior. And swans are known to be aggressive in protecting their young, as are many species, including humans.
I can provide you with some references if you like. My opinion is not un-researched. But, all that being said, my comment did not mean to suggest that the swan’s defense of her space was unjustified as you have derived from this writing. The word “territorial” does not in any way imply, on my part, a dislike of the swans.
If you read my many other entries in this blog as well as my various points of philosophy, you’ll know I’m a strong defender of wild animals — particularly in an over-populated world where we humans are, in fact, the greatest threat to wildlife and their shrinking habitat.
I suppose I can see why you might get an erroneous notion from this post, based on my use of the word “territorial.” The word itself means the behavior of protecting ones domain from intruders. My intent was not to malign the swan for its actions, merely to suggest the action.
I am not one of those people who vilifies non-native animals or plants. If you read my various posts on non-natives throughout this blog, you’ll see that my ideas emulate yours in terms of nature appreciation. If you’d like a few examples, let me know and I’ll post links to some of my writing in this regard.
Do I understand the counterpoints to my point of view on various species? Yes. Do I share the reaction of those who see non-native species in a black-and-white, good/bad fashion? Absolutely not.
This photo and post is one isolated nugget from a blog that contains, for the most part, an emotional connection to every species I have the honor to observe and photograph. In addition, I volunteer at a wildlife hospital and do my best to help every species of animal that crosses my path, irrespective of the country or continent whence it originated.
Like you, I feel fortunate to live among, experience, observe and photograph the bounty of amazing animals and plants with whom we share the Bay Area and the world. Normally, I wouldn’t take this much space in defending this notion, except that in this case, you took what I portrayed, slightly out of context in the bigger body of my work at this blog. And your understanding of my stance is almost antithetical to what I believe and write about.
I will, however, take note of your objections and see if there’s a need to add a comment to clarify the context of my photo.
Since when did “nature” people cop such crappy attitudes? Geez, Cathy, as a neutral in this exchange I see your attitude as really poor and offish and quite frankly, not becoming of anyone I would consider a worthwhile teacher if you indeed have alot of knowledge as you say.
Sounds to me like you have appointed yourself an expert, what are your qualifications?
I don’t see anything that approaches professional from your standpoint other than a bad attitude and improper etiquette.
Trying to talk down and dismiss someone such as the blogger and her observations with your lackluster approach makes me throw any of your words out.
Do your homework on presentation and perhaps someone may take your thoughts as meaningful…
Thanks, John. Cathy didn’t come back to respond, and it’s a precarious endeavor for me to put thoughts and words into other peoples’ heads. But, I’ll go out on a limb and suggest that it’s possible she was reacting so strongly because some in the area have negative feelings toward the “non-native” Mute Swans. At the time I wrote this, I’m not sure I knew of that facet. I might have made myself more clear in the post. There is so much antipathy toward non-native animals, and I suspect these protective words sprang from that motivation. Because of my own status as a member of a highly-destructive non-native species, I’m the last one to scapegoat other non-natives.
Just be grateful you aren’t on OBama’s non-native owl list : O
Isn’t that a tough one to swallow?
How does a bird move and not become native..they all moved at some point?
Maybe some sort of “out of state bird tuition” penalty. Death.
Spotted Owls are rare because of humans killing the forest, numbers are down and now Barred Owls eat them and pay the price.
Much like the Sea Lions and the minute runs.
I did see a Barred Owl on the Queets about 10 years back and thought for sure it was a Spotted Owl until I went home and saw the pics-used a flash from afar.
Have you seen Spotted Owls?
Ah, the politics of nature is a real bummer : |