For the past couple of weeks new life has been developing in Sunbury-on-Thames with the welcoming of Spring. The swans were seen a couple of weeks ago building their nest and now the eggs have been laid and are getting ready to hatch. They have been a popular sight for many locals who come along to watch them and even feed them. They defeated the trouble of the floods and saved their eggs but unfortunately not their nest and had to create a new one. It is illegal to interfere with a swan's nest, therefore not much could be done, and the swans had to learn from their mistake. 

Swans breed in the spring for food, shelter and warmth. With the mother swan looking after the eggs and the father protecting the nest, a lot of energy is needed. They get shelter by creating their nests and the weather needs to be warmer to ensure the cygnets can stay warm, as they are vulnerable to the cold. 

Swans usually lay around 10 eggs, but it is not expected for all of them to survive and the amount they lay decreases as they get older. Cygnets typically stay with their parents for around 6 months and can begin breeding themselves around 4 years old.  

Sunbury-on-Thames resident, Ana Hughes said, “The swans bring everyone so much joy on the river, and we are looking forward to seeing the eggs hatch very soon.” 

It's predicted to be 36 days from a mother laying her eggs to the eggs being ready to hatch, so hopefully there will be cygnets very soon!