Скачать или смотреть Crows Stalk Very Young Cygnets. English Midlands. May 2016

This video was shot from a considerable distance, at maximum zoom, without a tripod, which is responsible for some unsteadiness and lack of sharpness.

A quite mature and experienced adult swan pair with seven very young cygnets decided, for some reason, to move on foot from the nest site to another location. The journey involved the crossing of two quite large, open fields, separated by a road. I only became aware of their expedition as they approached the end of the second field. They were almost at their destination, but it soon became clear that the dangers were far from over.

Using a high-zoom camera as a telescope, some very undesirable company in the shape of two crows could be seen stalking the cygnets, but the family were too far away to be warned or helped. Contrary to their usual formation, with one adult at the front and the other at the back, the cob was leading the group and the pen was following directly behind him, recklessly leaving the cygnets to straggle loosely at the rear. This rendered the youngsters vulnerable to attack.

As the swan family neared safer territory, one of the crows grabbed a cygnet and began to fly off with it. Because of the limitations of the viewfinder, subsequent events were unclear at the time of filming, but it is clear on a computer screen that the crow almost immediately lost its grip and dropped the cygnet, which can then be seen running back to its mother.

Shortly after the event, it was a relief to confirm that all seven cygnets appeared to be unharmed, although one of them is now, perhaps, a little wiser. Here's hoping that the parents have learnt a valuable lesson, too.

NB please - Wildfowl will rarely refuse small portions of wheat grain, cracked corn or fresh, unsweetened, unsalted tinned corn poured into the shallows. Please don't feed them on land. Bread, especially white, is very poor nutrition, can cause harm and might attract vermin and pollution if left uneaten. Mouldy bread can kill, by promoting lung disease (aspergillosis). Please remove any fishing line and hooks you find lying around - they can cause horrible injuries and suffering. Many thanks!
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