Are swans aggressive? Or just overprotective dads?

Kingdom: Animalia

Family: Anatidae

Species: Cygnus olor

The mute swan, Cygnus olor, is a species of swan found frequently throughout the UK. It is recognised for its white plumage, orange beak and long neck, and is called 'mute' due to it being less vocal than other swan species. They are some of the heaviest flying birds in the UK and have a  wingspan of up to 2.4 m. They possess an oil-producing gland at the base of their tail and use their bills to spread this oil throughout their feathers to keep them waterproof, which is why they are sometimes seen wiggling about in an odd fashion. They regularly bathe by opening their wings and diving underwater, and then flapping their wings and shaking to dry off. Mute swan sub fossils which are 6000 years old have been found in post-glacial peat beds right here in East Anglia!

However, what mute swans are most well known for is not their looks, or their history with Norfolk, but their attitude. Swans have bit of a rep for being aggressive. Previously, someone has died from drowning as a result of a swan attack, and most people you speak to have stories about someone they know being attacked by a swan. Every day when walking to school when I was in sixth form, I had to walk past 'Asbo' - the well known swan in my home town who everyone knew to stay way from due to numerous attacks. I certainly know that when I was taking these pictures, I was feeling pretty nervous and  remained ready to run upon attack. But is there any truth behind this bad name this species have earned for themselves? Or is Asbo just a bad egg, dirtying the name up for all the others, along with a few others?

The aggressive behaviour is usually displayed in late spring, from April to June, and is done because males are defending their nests to protect their young. They typically hiss and busk (where they flap their wings and curve their neck back), but the danger is apparently overrated and it is a myth that they will break your leg or arm with their wings. However, they will use their wings to attack rather than their beak if you provoke them. The behaviour is primarily for show, as they are not actually that strong, it is simply their size which makes them an intimidating animal. They may be able to harm the elderly or very young, but to an adult? They pose no real threat. The number of reported incidents compared to the number of swans living in the UK means the threat is minimal. To be safe, stand your ground and don't overstep the line into their territory, and you should be safe to go for walks around the UEA broad with no fear.