A Lone Swan is a Lonely Swan.
Swans are Social Birds.
They Behave Differently with a Companion or Mate.
Swan will Live Alone – But….
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A Lone Swan is a Lonely Swan.
There is a Sadness about them.
They do not Understand “Future.”
But, they Remember being Alone at SunSet, SunRise and Lonely Days.
Lone Swans can be Captive or Feral.. They are Alone.
This Female Mute was a Discarded Pet.
March 2024 – I can not Think of my Life without the Swans.
I have been Loving and Caring for Swans for 20 Years.
In Fact February 18, 2024 was 20 Years to the Day
I Encountered my first Swan. February 18, 2004.
She was a Discard Pet we called “Pretty Girl” that was spending
her Days at a nearby Boat Launch along the Susquehanna River.
She was Alone and seemed so Sad..
Thanks to the Internet,
I did Searches and started to Learn about Swans.
My Love of Swans was Firmly Set
when in 2005, a BIG, Mature Mute Male
Flew into our Area and Pair-Bonded with her.
I was Hooked after Watching them Together.
We have had MANY Swan Adventures since then.
This Female Lived for Four Year Alone on the River.
Literally, “Out of the Blue” a Mature Mute Cob Flew into our River System.
He Found the Lonely Pen.. They Bonded Quickly.
It was Wonderful to Witness their Happy Union.
Now SunRises were Delightful.
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A Lone Feral Male Swan on a Large River System.
He Toured the River Looking for People to Visit.
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A Skittish Young Female Mute Alone on another River System.
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A Different River – A Different Female Mute.
After Several Weeks Alone she Disappeared.
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A Captive Bred-Released Trumpeter Swan Travels Alone.
It took Weeks to Gain his Trust.
He Found Winter Food Support and Visitor at a Boat Launch.
This Juvenile Trumpeter Swan was Fed TOO Much Bread.
One Afternoon, he went to Sleep One Last Time.
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This Feral Swan came from some place Up River.
Joining with Two other Swans Living in this Area..
One of her Companions was Seriously Injured and Rescued.
Her other Companion was Shot.
This Feral Swan was Alone for over Six Months.
During the Winter we Visited her with Food every Day.
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Her Story was Ended with a Hunter’s Bullet.
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After 23-24 Years Together this Cob’s Brother Died.
At 24 Years Old, the Lone Cob Accepted an 18 Month Old Female.
“Prince” lived to be 33 Years Old.
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This Mute Cob is Full Wing… a Lone Rogue.
He was Flying from Pond to Pond..All over the Area.
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The Cob Below is Pinioned – his Female was Full Wing – she Flew Away.
Now he is ALL Alone on a BIG Pond.
He was Eventually Rehomed.
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This Swan is “Jakey.” He was 2 years old.
Had been Alone most of the Summer.
The Swan in the Mirror is his Main Company..
He sat with the Mirror for hours each Day..
We Arranged a Young Female for him..
“Sadie” & “Jakey” have been Happy Together for 6 Years in 2025.
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Several Times a Year, I have a Call or EMail from Folks
that have Purchased a Property and a Lone Swan came with it.
It is Important to KNOW the Sex of the Lone Resident Swan
before Bringing a New Swan to be a Companion or Mate.
I will try to Arrange for Compatible Swans.
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It is Magical to See Swans Living Together
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A Raccoon Killed this Cob’s Female.
They had been Together for Many Years.
He would Flirt when I came to Visit.
Lonely – He Walked Away from his Property.. Gone.
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This Mute Cob was Living Alone.
His Female was Shot.. He Never Accepted another Female.
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Sold with his Sister as a Pair – Both had been Poorly Fed…
Severely Under Weight – his Sister Died.
With a Proper Diet he becomes a BIG Health Cob.
This Cob and his New Pen Shared Years of their Lives Together.
We Enjoyed Many Visits with this Pair.
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We Moved our Young Rescued Cygnet to his New Home.
We were Arranging for Two Females to Join Him.
“Meadow” Wanted NOTHING to do with us.. He was Lonely !
No Longer our BackYard Buddy..He felt Abandon.
His New Companions were Being Treated for an Illness.
“Meadow” was a VERY Lonely Cygnet – Depressed. He would NOT Visit with us.
There is NO Way to Tell this Very Lonely Cygnet, “The Girls” will be Well Soon.
Finally Happy Together.
We were Lucky – our Threesome was Together for 8 Years.
They had known One Another since they were 6 Months Old.
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A Companion Sister was Killed. 
Alone for many Months.
Finally A Companion.
But Not a Mate.
Yes, there are Two Swans on the Pond.
But they are Both Males ! UNRELATED !
This Relationship will be Troubled.
Yep, it DID End.
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This Young Female was Chased Away from her Family.
We had No Way to Catch a Full-Wing Swan on the River.
There are Too many Rocks and Shallow Place for a Boat.
Kayaks and Canoes are Too Slow.
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A Feral Male Swan Living Along a Local Creek.
A Feral Swan Wandering from Place to Place has little Support.
After Months Alone he Disappeared.
We Never Learned his Fate.
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This Mute Cob is Singing into the Air.
Hoping Another Swan will Hear him.
It is Suggested that Lone Females will go looking for a Male,
more often then a Male Swan goes looking for a Female.
All Birds are Driven by their Reproductive Hormones.
Winter is the Season their Hormones Increase.
Lone Swans may go Wandering.
Check they are on the Water at SunSet and SunRise.
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A Mature Rogue Female Swan Stole her Male.
We Moved this Young Female to a Safer Home.
In a Few Weeks she will be Introduced to a Male.
She will be a Happy Swan Again.
They Nested the Following Spring.
We Lost this Beautiful Pen a Few Days after her Cygnet Hatched..
Now the Cob was Alone Again.
Dear little “Puppy” did not Survive..
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This Female was Alone – Her Mate had been Killed.
She Welcomed a Young Male.
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She has Company Again.
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This Female Lost her Male Companion/Mate.
This Female Mute Swan is Telling the Dock Post
“I Like You.”
She has been Alone for close to Two Years.
This Gentle Female Died Alone.
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Several Days Ago.. Her Mate Died.
She is Alone for the First Time in Five Years.
Alone No More. A Female Cygnet is her New Companion.
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Not Pinioned this Young Swan Flew Away.
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There were Ducks and Friendly People at the Marina.
A Hunter Eventually Shot this Swan.
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Her Companions LEFT their Safe Pond.
She Sits Alone – Waiting for their Return.
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Even with Lots of Feathered Ducks – She was So Lonely.
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First: her Female Companion Died.
Then: her Rescued Male Companion Died from Injuries.
“Pippa” was Alone for such a Long Time.
Swans have Memory of Endless Days Alone.
With No Hope of a Companion, “Pippa” was not doing well Alone.
She was Wandering the Neighborhood – Crossing Roads.
She had Lots of Feathered Friend. But she was Still Alone.
Finally, we Arrange for her to Move to a New Home.
The Mate of the young Pen below was Killed.
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The Young Pens are Surprised to See Each Other.
We Brought Treats for the Girls.
Their Upper Necks are Puffed-Up with Happiness.
When a Companion/Mate is Introduced their Personalities Blooms.
YEAH ! !
It Only took a Short Time for these Pens to Become Best Friends.
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A Mute Cob is Facing the Winter Months Alone.
A Paddling of Ducks are his Only Feathered Companions.
We Tried to Rescue him – No Luck.
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This Young Female was Alone for Over a Year.
“At least they have Feathers.”
We Introduced One of our Rescued Males
and they were Great Company for each Other.
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Some Lone Swans will Seek Companionship from Ducks and Geese.
They want to have Companions to Preen with – Sit with.
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A Female Nesting Alone is Very Vulnerable.
She will be VERY Vulnerable to Predators.
She needs to “Sits” for 42 Days before Removing her Eggs.
“Spring” is Nesting on an Island Alone. Fairly Safe.
A Female Swan Nesting Alone
may NEED some Extra Protection Around her Nest.
If She is Nesting on an Island.. that Helps.
A Lone Pen will DEFEND Unfertile Eggs.
which makes them VERY Vulnerable to Predators.
The Reason Swan Cobs are so Fierce during the Spring,
is Swans are Ground Nesting Birds..
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This Lonely Female Swan Shared her Food with the Pond Koi.
They Grabbed her Food – Gone in a Minute.
She Finally Died Alone.
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A “Rogue” Female Swan took the Mature Male away
from this Young Female… Now she is Alone.
We Started to Look for a New Male…. It took Time.
She wanted some Companionship.. Enter an Egret.
“Hannah” tried to Talk to the Egret – “Snort.”
They do not Speak the same Language.
Her “Snort” scared the Egret away.
Our Young Pond Princess was Alone for about a Month.
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A Lone Swan will usually Look forward to Human Company.
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We Helped to Arrange for a New Female.
Alone No Longer.. A Sweet Young Female joins this Older Cob.
Together they Watched a Family Wedding.
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This Black Australian Cob has No Mate.
He is Nesting Alone.
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This Young Male was Rescued from a Dangerous Situation.
He Spent his First Winter Alone.
This Pair of Ducks became his Favorite Companions.
The Following Summer he Welcomed a Shy Female Cygnet.
A Year Later they are Happy – Bonded.
Now Winter is a Wonderful Time of Year for them.
They are Adorable Together.
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Tragically, her Mate was Killed Protecting her while she was Nesting.
Now she has a New Mate to Sleep with. So Cute.
Swans are Such Social Creatures. Life is Better Shared.
They Guard and Warn each other while Eating and Sleeping.
One will Sleep while the other Stays Awake and Watches.
Swans are Very, Very Light Sleepers.
We were out a few Times with our Swans Late at Night just to watch what happens.
We sat Quietly by their Pond just Observing.
We were Ignored, they did not come over for Treats.
They were Silent. NO Vocals. The Swans would Float Tail to Tail.
One Swan would Rest for about 20-30 Minutes
while the other would Keep Watch. One Eye Open.
Then they would Switch. Reposition their Location
in case they had been Floating Away from their Safe Zone.
This is a VERY Small Number of Observations. I did find it Interesting.
A Lone Swan will Sleep/Nap more during the Day Hours..
When Alone they go into a Survival Mode.. Alone they have to be on Guard 24/7.
Swans are Prey Birds.. and more Vulnerable when Alone..
They become more Cautious.. Less Relaxed.
When they try to Rest there is no way to Sleep Soundly.
Nap Time Above… One Swan has One Eye Open..
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The Sudden Loss of her Sister Companion.. She Still looks for her.
We Arranged for a Rescued Male to Join her Pond.
This Young Rescued Male was Full-Winged – Clipped Twice.. but he had WanderLust.
We can not Explain Property Lines to the Swans.
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Going into Survival Mode.
A Week Ago we could Hand Feed this Young Female and her Sister.
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A Feral Swan Living Alone.. with Canadian Geese. 
They are Company… But….
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A Mute Cob Alone for Months Welcomes a Young Female.
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A Mature Pen Welcomes a Young Male Cygnet.
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I have seen Lone Male Swans “Singing” up into the Air.
They are Calling – Hope to Locate Another Swans.
Especially a Female..
Winter Time Alone is NO Fun.
The Long, Dark, Nights are Cold and Lonely.
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Their Happy Relationship was Short..
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These Three Mute Swans came onto our Local River System
at Different Times. Each Alone.
They found each other and formed a Threesome.
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In April there were only Two Feral Swans.
Swans are Very Different when they have Company.
In November there were Three Feral Swans.
Life is Better with Friends.
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This Information is a Work in Progress…..
As I learn more I may add to this Topic Page.
Compiled by (C) L.M.Sweger Updates January 2024
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One Winter Day Visit with a Lone Feral Mute Swan.
As soon as she saw our Van she Headed toward Us.
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Several People helped Feed “Harmony” during the Winter.
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She Trusted Us..
And we would Bring Good Food and Treats.
And some Companionship.
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A Gentle Feral Swan Living Alone.
We Tried to Catch her… No Luck.
In the End She was Shot to Death.
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