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‘She is very successful’: The large family of swans who have gone into the Heath’s record books |
Unflappable! Swan sets a record with nine cygnets
A HAMPSTEAD mother has given birth to nine offspring, trumping her previous record set last year of having eight babies.
But the proud mum has not been straining the staff at the Royal Free’s labour ward – the parent is a swan who lives on the Hampstead Number One pond.
For the past two years, she has produced eight cygnets, but this year Heath rangers have counted nine in total – a record.
Heath ranger Danny Murphy said: “She is very successful. The pond she has made her home is a diverse habitat and is well looked after.”
The pond is often the first port of call for dogs and toddlers looking to feed the ducks, but the rangers have managed to maintain its attraction to the wild fowl.
“We built a platform for dogs to swim from and it seems to have worked in keeping them separate from the swans,” said Mr Murphy.”
Elsewhere on the Heath, a swan has hatched one cygnet on the Men’s Pond. The swan there is known for being particularly territorial, and was recently involved in a fight with geese.
Mr Murphy added: “She had to be given aid on the banks by volunteer group Swan Rescue, but has still managed to hatch a cygnet.” |
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