Mr. Swan is also know as Papa Swan and Buddy to his human friends, and The Boss-of-the-Pond to all avian creatures, from Rockport Harbor to Gloucester Harbor. He will be turning at the very least 28-years-old in 2018. We know this because a gentleman named Skip has been keeping watch over Mr. Swan, along with his first mate, second mate, and cygnets, beginning in the year 1992. A male Mute Swan cannot mate until he is a minimum of two years old and even that age would be considered unusually young.
When Mr. Swan lifts out of the water to stretch his wings as he is doing in the photo below, he reminds me of the story of the Phoenix in Greek mythology. Not only because he has lived a very long life of at least 28 years, which is extraordinary for a wild swan, but because he has an incredible ability to adapt to a constantly changing environment, and to rise from the depths of sorrow. He has survived near capture, physical injuries, boats in the harbors, coyotes, snapping turtles, and the loss of not one, but two mates. He was so deeply distraught after his second mate was killed by a coyote, many of us worried whether or not he would survive. But he has, and magnificently so.
The Phoenix Rises
Good Morning Gloucester 
Makes me sad for him.
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Don’t be sad Anita, everyday he is regaining his strength and becoming more and more like his old self 🙂
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Thank you so much for following Mr. Swan. He is a special boy and I know Skip and many others care about his welfare daily.
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Yes they do and I did not mean to infer that they do not by only mentioning Skip at Niles Pond. I referred to Skip because he has known him the longest. He is beloved by many, especially Lois and Serena, Lyn, Skip and Joel from Rockport, and many more. Mr. Swan has many loving friends ❤
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Beautiful animal. I saw him by cape ann marina the other day. Hope he continues to be safe.
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I see him over there occasionally too Susan! I think his overall territory is from the Marina, over to Gloucester Harbor, Rocky Neck, Eastern Point, along the backshore, to Pebble Beach and to Rockport Harbor.
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28 years is quite a milestone and hopefully will have many more to come! 🙂 Dave & Kim:-)
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He is doing very, very well–a little gimpy at times–but vastly improved from last spring 🙂
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