I immediately became curious about whether these were truly the same species as the ones back home.
The mute swan can be found in a majority of Europe and along the east coast of the United States. In these areas, swans live in shallow lakes or ponds and reside on small mounds of brush that they build on the edge of the water. They often reuse the same nest each year with the same partner because swans are monogamous and very territorial. In most cases, only one pair of swans can stay on a lake at a time.
The swans use shallow lakes or ponds so it can reach the vegetation growing on the ground with their long necks. They also utilize difficult to reach spots on the pond, sometimes even islands, on which to build their nests. Since these areas are harder to reach, they are easier to protect when their babies hatch.
You might be wondering why these swans are called "mute" swans. The name 'mute' derives from them being less vocal than other swan species.
The main threat to these beautiful birds is habit destruction by humans. In the UK specifically, there has been an issue of many swans dying due to the pollution of their water sources. They are also threatened by humans hunting them during certain seasons. Despite these human-made threats, we are not currently worried about the population of mute swans globally. With many people raising them on farms and the large prevalence across multiple countries, the mute swans will probably be safe for a long time to come.
