In the green Black Country

IT’S the time of year when much of our wildlife are busy rearing their young, and these are pictures sent in by readers of a pair of hard-working parents.

Firstly, we have a photograph by Dave Hanson, taken in West Smethwick Park with a Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) and its cygnets. This is Britain’s most common swan and one of our largest birds. They tend to pair for life and the female, or pen, lays up to seven eggs around late April and early May, which hatch 35-41 days later. The cygnets remain with their parents for their first four to five months and tend to be driven off when their plumage has turned white, although some remain with their parents when they go to their winter areas.

Also in the picture is a Coot (Fulica atra), which can be very aggressive during the breeding season, jealously guarding their territory from other coots or anything else threatening.

Our second picture is by Diane Simpson and it shows a Robin (Erithacus rubecula) feeding a fledgling. Robins are another fiercely territorial bird and their breeding season starts in March. They lay four to six eggs which tend to hatch after 13 days. The chicks fledge after a fortnight and their parents can continue to feed them for another three weeks. Often the male will care for the fledglings while his mate prepares the nest for a second brood. In good years Robins can have three or even four broods.

Please send your wildlife pictures to editor@blackcountry bugle.co.uk