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January 5

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Places to Visit and Explore Nature in Stanley Park Ecosystem Guides: Lake Stanley Park Visitor Map: with Park Features, Trails, and Destinations Lost Lagoon

Mute Swan It is a well known fact that most mute swans mate for life. How do such long-lived birds meet this demanding challenge - and why? The photograph shows a pair of mute swans engaged in an intricate courtship dance. The 'dance' itself is made up of a set of highly ritualized displays. The dance and mating that follows are part of a set of 'pair bonding' and 'pair maintenace' behaviours that help the swans maintain a life-long bond. Even thought the breeding season is still months away it is to the swans' advantage to keep their relationship strong. By staying and working together the swan pair have a better chance of establishing and holding a breeding territory. Competition for nest space and feeding territory is intense in the crowded conditions these captive mute swans find themselves in. Of the 13 (Jan. 2008) mute swans on Lost Lagoon only 1-3 pairs are likely to hold and defend the territory needed to build a nest and lay eggs.       Field Guide Entry: Mute Swan

Stanley Park Explorer http://www.stanleyparkexplorer.ca Produced by Peter Woods naturalist@stanleyparkexplorer.ca           Revised: May 20, 2011