Beloved swan dies on Longboat Key

It came as a shock to Longboat Key Swan Keeper David Novak when beloved swan Chuck died the morning of Sept. 5.

"He was lethargic at a morning feeding, but swam away," Novak said. "He was not at the age that he would die. I had to make sure his family was prepared so they wouldn't go looking for him."

Chuck and his mate Lydia were parents to the four swan cygnets born in May on Longboat Key, being the first swans to be born on the island in four years. 

Chuck originally was paired with another swan, Margie, who died after laying her eggs. Since Chuck lost his mate, he sought out another partner to breed with. Another swan,, Donald, was paired with Lydia until the day Chuck came and chased Donald away. Donald became a loner swan after that while Chuck and Lydia mated for the rest of his life. 

When Chuck died, Novak made sure that Lydia and the cygnets understood the situation because of the vital position a father holds in the cygnets' development. 

 "The male parent plays a role in teaching and protecting the young," Novak said.  "He also gives them a firm 'push out the door' when the next breeding cycle begins."

Novak is considering the purchase of a new swan to add to the Key's swan population. He does not plan to pair a swan with Lydia until the cygnets are adults because a new aggressive male could cause harm to the family. 

Novak said volunteers have stepped forward to provide veterinary care to the swan family. The cygnets will remain together through November until they are old enough to claim their own territories.

"Chuck turned out to be a model parent, more attentive and caring than I've seen any other male," Novak said.