Journal: October 31. Sunday walk. Swan story.

Karen Altman drove out from Boonton with her friend Elaine who was interested in painting the house (as in making a picture of, not painting the walls).

The day began bright and sunny.  I even a hung a wash on the line, but by the time they arrived, the sun was ducking behind thick clouds and it was cooler and windier than I might have preferred.

But that is the Californian in me talking.  Karen and Elaine didn't seem at all concerned.  It was not yet true winter cold and while I may have forgotten the difference, they have not.

As Elaine drew the house (on what it turned out was its final day without insulation covering the brown clapboard, Karen and I took a long walk, even venturing down paths I'd never tread before.

The lake was covered with birds and I presented her with the latest swan gossip:

Anyone who has been closely following the sad swan saga will recall that months ago, long after three of the four baby swans had expired, one of the parent swans was killed.  The likely suspect was a snapping turtle.  We didn't know if it was the mother or father, but the surviving parent with its only child seemed content enough circling the lake, often stopping at the far end in the company of one or two great blue herons.  It was not clear what would happen. 

My father, when we were children, and other swans summered on the lake every year, rarely let a week ago without declaiming that swans were monogamous for life.  How did these devoted swans deal with bereavement?  A mystery.

A few weeks ago, despite their often combative swan natures, they seemed to welcome the scores of Canada geese and ducks who spent their days looking for corn in the recently cut fields and arrived at our lake with great honking each night.

Last week the visitors were joined by another pair of swans.  For a few days there were three adult swans and the one growing cygnet.   It was impossible for an outside human observer to know what was going on.  Were the visiting swans a happy empty-nesting couple?  Were they two swan guys out cruising for a new lifetime mate? Two female swans on an analogous mission?  None of these questions have been answered, but within a few days, there were two adult swans sticking close to each other, while the cygnet, almost full grown, but still plumed in gray was sometimes nearby, but often by itself, as if giving the grown-ups a bit of privacy (hard to maintain with all those geese and ducks).

Was a new swan couple established?  Did the empty-nesters toss out the single parent?  How is the child coping?  From my shore-side perspective it seems to be working out, but who can pierce these mysteries?

My guests  reflected on this a bit, but for the most part they were delighted that they enjoyed perfect weather for both walking and painting.  A fine time was had by all.