Swans going walkabout
A swan family appeared on the grass below my balcony
The swan family stayed for about an hour on the grass below my balcony, but then a cat appeared, and they decided to move on. They walked across the parking lot over towards a rather steep staircase so my neighbour and I decided to make certain they did not tumble down that way.
They settled in a quiet corner next to the staircase, now blocked by my neighbour and me, and the whole family started to feed on the grass.
The family then slowly made their way from the corner towards the road, with the two of us following at a safe distance, but ready to block the traffic once we reached the main road. The lake is on the other side of the main road, surrounded by woodland, but we had to get them across the road.
There were a couple of very dissatisfied drivers who did not appreciate the rescue effort, now assisted by two gentlemen, who blocked traffic coming from the other side.
Finally, the swan family reached the safety of the woodland and set off towards the lake.
I kept thinking of those tiny duckling feet and the long way they had come, something intensified the next evening when my daughter called on her way home from my place — she had met the swan family walking in the middle of the road that we so carefully helped them across the day before. The local television provided photos:
The television reporter told about long queues, but no angry drivers as we had met the day before. Nothing happened to the swans or their ducklings — they were apparently on their way to the fjord, quite a walk, especially on those tiny legs. They are reported to be safe and enjoying the fjord.
