ELORA – The Elora Community Swan Group now has four more mouths to feed.
On April 17 the collection grew by 50% when one of the eight adult swans gave birth to four cygnets – something that surprised the group’s 24 volunteers.
“It’s very rare … I’ve been involved here for about 10 years and I’ve never seen it,” said co-coordinator Brian Gibbon of the birth within the swans’ winter enclosure.
“This occurrence was kind of a shock to us all.”
In the coming weeks the adult swans will be placed at various locations in Centre Wellington for the spring and summer: four in the Grand River in Elora, two in the Irvine River and two in the pond at the Wellington Terrace in Aboyne.
As of April 28, The Elora Community Swan Group was still awaiting approval for swan placement from officials at the Wellington Terrace, which previously had a COVID-19 outbreak (declared over on April 19).
The other swans are expected to be placed in their summer habitat by mid-May. Those placements depend on water levels and flows, which are affected by local dams.
A few volunteers are charged with feeding the swans during the spring and summer, which helps ensure the swans don’t wander too far, Gibbon said.
Then, in the fall, volunteers grab the birds again and take them to their permanent winter lodging next to the LCBO and pump station in Elora.
Gibbon noted the swans fare well outside all year, even during cold winters.
Year-round care of the swans is handled by volunteers who provide care based on donations.
The non-profit swan program has been running in Elora for 25 years. Its biggest fundraiser is the annual Black Dress Event, this year held at the Elora Legion.
