For months, a pair of elegant swans had captured the hearts of visitors to the Charles River Esplanade in Boston, Massachusetts. Nestled beside the park’s tranquil lagoon, the bonded couple seemed the picture of serenity as they prepared to raise a family together.
“In early April, we first noticed their nest near the lagoon pillars,” Emma Feeney, marketing and events coordinator for the Esplanade Association, told The Dodo. “By early May, the female had laid nine eggs. About ten days ago, the cygnets started hatching.”
Seven fluffy babies emerged from their eggs, watched over lovingly by both parents. Parkgoers, birdwatchers, and casual strollers all became enchanted by the feathered family — the swans had become local celebrities.
Swan couples typically mate for life and share parenting duties equally: guarding the nest, keeping the cygnets warm, and guiding them through their earliest days. But heartbreak struck when the mother suddenly fell ill and passed away, just days after her babies hatched.
Local wildlife observer Sylvia J. Zarco was at the lagoon that night and noticed something was wrong.
“She was sheltering her cygnets like the great mom she’d been all week,” Zarco wrote on Facebook. “But she couldn’t lift her head. She stumbled when she stood and only moved backward when trying to swim.”
Despite his own distress, the father stayed close, torn between protecting their young and supporting his ailing mate. “When the cygnets went for a swim, you could see how torn he was,” Zarco said.
By the time animal control arrived, the mother swan had passed. As her body was gently lifted from the water, the grieving father didn’t stir — he remained by the nest, quietly sheltering his young.
A city veterinarian later examined her but couldn’t determine a cause of death.
Her sudden passing devastated the local community. “People stop by the swan family daily — it’s become part of their routine,” Feeney said. “Her death broke a lot of hearts.”
Still, the story didn’t end in sorrow. In the face of loss, the father swan stepped into his role as sole caregiver — fully and fiercely.
“He’s doing an incredible job,” Feeney said. “You can see them all swimming together in the lagoon, with some of the babies hitching a ride on his back.”
Protective and patient, the devoted dad keeps his little ones close. “When geese come by, you can see him puff up and defend them,” she added. “He’s just a fantastic father — it’s really touching to watch.”
Thanks to his unwavering care, the seven cygnets are thriving. With a little more time and a lot of love, they’ll grow strong, maybe one day returning to the Charles River to raise families of their own.
But for now, they have their dad — and all of Boston — cheering them on.
“They’ve been through so much,” Feeney said, “but they’re staying strong.”
