Record breakers: WWT London Wetland Centre’s First Eleven
A pair of mute swans at WWT London Wetland Centre has broken a record by hatching 12 cygnets. In our 13 year history this is the highest number of cygnets recorded for one pair of swans and, according to the British Trust for Ornithology, is at the very top end of the range for a brood.
Mute swans typically lay four to seven eggs, so a clutch of 12 is exceptional.
They were first spotted by Richard Bullock, our chief ecologist, yesterday. Unfortunately, by the time this photo was taken this morning one cygnet had already gone missing, but the eleven remaining juveniles still constitute a record for the Centre.
“It’s wonderful to see so many healthy cygnets after such a long, cold spring,” said Richard. “There have been rare, recorded instances in the past of swans adopting cygnets from other broods, but we have no reason to believe that that has happened in this case. This is the only adult pair with a nest on this lake so we think the cygnets are all theirs.”
The proud parents are doing an excellent job and staff at the wetland centre are confident that most of them have the best chance of survival with such caring parents.
Mute swans live for about 15 years and mate for life. Mute swan cygnets are grey and won’t obtain their snowy-white adult plumage for about two years.
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