Good Morning Madonna
Mute swan pen on nest in Collingwood's inner harbour. Swans have had mixed success in nesting in this area the past few years. High waves during storms have washed nests away. This particular nest has already collapsed and the eggs rolled out. All but one of the eggs was retrieved by the parents and returned to the shored up nest.
Housekeeping
The swans' nest requires constant attention. This one has already collapsed once.
Counting Eggs
One, two, three. On May 1, there are three eggs remaining of the original five. Two were lost when the nest collapsed.
Counting Eggs #2
When I arrived at the nest on May 4, I wondered why the pen was squeezed up against the rock at the far end of the nest. A quick scan of the area through my lens identified the problem. There were two eggs outside the nest in between the rocks. The pen was trying to cover them with her body.
Counting Eggs #3
May 4. The pen seems concerned about the two eggs that are outside the nest.
Counting Eggs #4
May 4. The pen carefully repositions herself revealing the remaining egg in the nest.
Counting Eggs #5
May 4. The pen tries to reach the eggs that are wedged between the nest and the rocks.
Counting Eggs #6
May 4. The pen worked for ages trying to get her bill under the eggs wedged between the rocks in order to pull them back into the nest.
Counting Eggs #7
May 4. The cob checks out the nest. The pen has been unable to return the two lodged eggs to the nest and in the process has pushed the egg that was in the nest to the edge. she tries to cover all of them with her body.
Counting Eggs #8
May 4. The pen hunkers down to await the coming storm. I am not optimistic any of these eggs will survive.
Counting Eggs #9
May 5.The nest survived the wind and waves of yesterday's storm, but the eggs didn't. The swans have abandoned this nest.
