Brooding black swan feared stolen from stately home
A BROODING black swan is missing from its nest in the grounds of a 14th century manor house and the owners fear it has been stolen.
Lady Deirdre Curteis and her husband Ian, of Markenfield Hall in Ripon, North Yorkshire, realised the female swan had disappeared when they saw the male sitting alone on their nest.
After several days of searching, the couple consulted an expert and came to the conclusion that the clipped-winged female, named Sylvia, had been stolen.
Lady Deirdre said: “I thought it was peculiar as Sebastian always swims across when he sees anyone coming, but there was just one swan and it was sitting on the nest.
“We searched for Sylvia for days but found no trace anywhere – not even a feather.”
Sebastian hit it off with Sylvia after its previous mate was killed by an otter two years ago. The pair had spent most of this month constructing a nest on the banks of the moat ready for their eggs. Swans are unusual in that both parents help incubate the eggs, with one standing guard to warn off predators. If the eggs hatch, Sebastian will have to be a single parent, protecting them until they are old enough to fly. Markenfield Hall’s moat has been patrolled by a pair of Black Swans for more than 30 years. Now Lady Deirdre is searching for a new female mate for Sebastian before the hall opens to the public on Sunday, May 5.
She hopes the young swan will accept a new female and “live here in peace once more”.