I don't know how many people knew about it, but I can say with near certainty that any student who takes classes in the fine arts building probably got to see the mother swan sitting on her nest of pine needles.
She made her home cozied up to the window near the ticket booth at the main entrance of the Center for the Arts. Swans can usually have three to eight eggs, and our Elon swan hatched six last night. The seventh is still sitting inside its gray home waiting to hatch.
The six baby swans, or cygnets, were admired this morning as Elon staff members attended an appreciation event in the center. As a recital was being held in the theater tonight, some local families and were able to enjoy the sight as well.
As a mother was holding her little daughter's hand to walk into the center, another mother (this one with crisp white feathers and an orange beak) would squawk in a soft but intense way to show that she means business.
The babies waddled around the nest, rested on the brick window ledge and tried to venture beyond their nest. The latter attempt was to no avail as mom would stretch her elegant neck to steer her baby back inside.
Check back for a seventh birth announcement soon!
The mother swan sitting on her nest on April 21
