Using the word ’safari’ might seem strange for a walk in Prospect Park, Brooklyn, NY. However there are three families of swans along with many varieties of ducks, geese, and gulls in the lake in Prospect Park.
Wikipedia has a good description of swans and their habitats. Swans usually do not battle each other for territory. They even form flocks to harness food resources. They do not migrate even in winter once they have found their home.
Revered by many cultures, swans are considered to be one of the most beautiful and graceful of birds.
What is not understood by many is their vulnerabilities when they share our environs. Recently, two cygnets, young swans, had fish hooks caught in their bodies.
People fishing in the park should pick spots away from the swans. Parent swans are very protective of their young. When people paddle boat in the lake they should avoid going close to the swans. Garbage does not belong in the lake for us and the water birds.
Such a wonder for our children to see these amazing birds so close to home. If we respect them, this safari will be ours.
The top two photographs were done by Thomas Maloney. The others I have done over the several years that I have admired these swans.
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