ZNY
ZNY was a regular Cob seen at the Saxon Mill. He was born in about 1997 possibly
in Stratford-
In February 2006 he was found with fishing line in his mouth and looking unwell. He was taken to a rescue centre where the line was removed and it was uncovered that he had swallowed a crisps packet. On recovery he was returned to the Saxon Mill but was sadly hit by a car a short while later.
VGY
VGY was the long term mate of ZNY. She was born in about 1992 possibly in Stratford-
The pair successfully nested every year between 2002 and 2005. On ZNY’s death on 2006 she returned to the winter herd at St Nicholas Park where she was seen to court a number of males. In the spring she returned to the Saxon Mill with and Untagged male, however a poorly placed nest and a flash flood washed the nest with eggs away. The following year was more successful with 6 cygnets being hatched. During the late summer there was considerable flooding and VGY took her brood some distance over land appearing on the Grand Union Canal In the process her orange DARVIC ring was lost.
On the canal the untagged male disappeared but in 2008 she paired with ATZ and raised 6 young. In 2009 they raised 5 but the following year moved nest site to near TESCO’s here they only hatched 1 cygnet. VGY was by now an old girl nearly 18 years old. She was last seen on the canal on 3rd July 2010. During her life in the area she hatched 30 eggs and raised 15 of them to adulthood.
ZTG
The cob ZTG is another well known local bird. His territory includes the Sea Scout Hut and Kingfisher Pools in St Nicholas Park, Warwick. Between 2002 and 2004 he paired with ZOT. They nested with varying success due to disturbance and vandalism at Kingfisher Pools raising only a few cygnets to adulthood. In 2007 ZOT was killed by a dog and so in 2008 ZTG paired with a new pen, ARK.
ARK was a much younger bird, only about 2 or 3 when they met. Their first attempt at breeding was unsuccessful and despite mating no eggs were laid. 2009 was a better year with 4 eggs being laid but only 1 hatching. In 2010 they raised 2 and in 2011 they raised 4. Some of their failures can be related to firstly the very public location of their nest sites and secondly to the immaturity of ARK. With her first successful brood both ZTG and ARK were very inattentive often leaving the cygnets to fend for themselves much of the time. This poor level of care has improved considerably over the last few years and ARK is shaping up to being a good parent.
ZON
Anyone who used the river at St Nicholas Park would know about ZON. ZON was a large and aggressive Cob. He was an impressive bird and very imposing. First identified in 2003 he vigorously held a territory along the river between the castle weir and then ferry crossing point in the park.
Regularly attacking rowers, other swans and ducks ZON mellowed when he paired with VYA. They built a nest in long grass near the bridge and raised 4 cygnets to adulthood. He was last seen in January 2008.
