What's it all about ?....Algae

The pen is down to the serious business of reproduction and is searching out the minerals and nutrients needed for the task. It is still a little early in the year for the weed and algae growth due to lack of warmth and sunlight. The extension of the sand bar along the beach is also having an adverse effect on the Swans food supply too, seaweed used to be plentiful at the end of the pier but this has been choked off by the encroaching sand. The pen is very picky now and will only eat what she wants when she wants ! Swans by nature are not greedy, they do not gorge themselves like some other species. The lower reaches of the river Nairn are not ideal swan territory as far as their grass and weed food supply, but they do manage half the year anyway. Algae and minerals seem to be her primary concern prior to nesting, she has taken to picking it off the pier walls and riverbed stones. Another interesting observation I have made, is that the cob seems to be the one who forms the interior nest size prior to construction ! Logic would seem to suggest that he - having the larger body size will create a nest large enough to hold all the eggs, which could be anything up to a dozen but usually around six or seven. Ain't Nature wonderful !