Not so ugly ducklings

One of the first things I learned about my responsibilities in covering Longboat Key was that I’d be writing updates on the resident swan population. Little did I know that once nesting season started, swan updates, from swankeeper David Novak, would be my most highly anticipated emails.

“I have breaking news for Vicki the swan!” I’d shout across my office.

Vicki went through an intestinal infection that brought her to Save Our Seabirds on two separate occasions. It was a race for her life.

“Any word on Vicki?” I’d ask Novak regularly. Luckily, she seems to have rallied and is in slow recovery. She’s gained some weight, but Novak still has to coax her into the water to get proper hydration.

Once the cygnets hatched, Novak offered to take me on a bike tour of their turf. Last week I got to see Alan and Beverly’s two cygnets feed — they were so cute! But Alan and Beverly noticed me and started swimming away until they heard Novak’s familiar voice calling for them. He’s the swan whisperer. 

Two out of five of Alan and Beverly’s kin “made it.” Parent swans often weed out the weak cygnets, says Novak, who has a wealth of knowledge on the topic. He should — he’s been developing it since 2007.

Did you know that too much protein gives the swans what are called angel wings, and that angel wings prevent them from flying? I didn’t, until now. The female swans on Longboat Key have angel wings. Novak has special feed that keeps cygnets from getting too much protein.

He shared all kinds of interesting info on our ride.

He took me toward the new swan pair that has temporarily taken over Vicki and Henry’s spot, because Vicki isn’t currently swimming. Novak knows the dividing line between every pair’s territory.

But, the new pair didn’t come when they were beckoned like Alan and Beverly did. Novak is going to let nature take its course with this pair, which would relieve Novak from additional swan duties. Nesting is a big responsibility: feeding, vaccinations, cleaning the nest to prevent predators. The list goes on. Novak has spent a great deal of time with the Longboat Key swan during his daily visits; being swankeeper is like a full-time job.

I didn’t get to see Stan and Wendy, but my last stop was to see Vicki. She was perched on the bank in the waterway across from the Publix construction at Bay Isles Parkway. She looked depressed, but this is probably just my anthropomorphic observation. Henry was loyally swimming in the water beside her. I was glad to learn that she has gained weight, but it brings a whole new light to the story when you see how sad she looks in person. Poor Vicki — I’m still rooting for her.

And, I’ll continue to check my email religiously for future swan updates. No doubt I will shout across the office as soon as something new hits my inbox.