Trade Secrets

[Boreades]

[hvered]

The second largest mute swan colony in the UK is on the border between England and Scotland. Though normally freshwater birds, swans gather at the Tweed estuary to feed on seaweed and algae at their most vulnerable period when moulting.

No-one knows the reason though it's supposed that sometime in the past swan husbandry must have been established, it's assumed to provide swan meat for state banquets. The question why the notoriously unstable border region should be seen as suitable for this operation isn't addressed.

http://www.swan-trust.org/berwick%20swans.htm

Cormorants are, or were, unusually numerous in the estuary, as the "crows of the sea" they got most of the blame for the reduction of salmon in the Tweed and thousands were reportedly shot.

[TisILeclerc]

Was the border always unstable? Was there a border for that matter before the Romans came?

[hvered]

[hvered]

Just checked and read that Bewick swans are named for Thomas Bewick, natural history author and engraver. What a pity, but at least he was from Northumberland!

Not entirely disappointing result as also read Bewick/whistling swans are of the Cygnus columbianus family -- or tundra swan. In this instance columbianus is said to refer to the Columbia River, "the type locality", even though these are migratory swans and their distribution range extends across Arctic and sub-Arctic regions.

What could the connection be between pigeons/doves, swans, tundra and whistling?

[Mick Harper]

There should be some dividends in investigating honking, mute, hissing, even quacking. The water fowl have a lot to answer for....to. First notion: why don't any of them 'sing'? [If none of them do.]

[TisILeclerc]

[Mick Harper]

[Boreades]

[Mick Harper]

I wish you'd sit quietly and try to help out for a change.