Photos: a swan family's journey up a small waterfall
Posted by kluciole at 5/26/2009 7:29 AM 
Categories: International, Science, Hope, love, Animal Rights, news, Photography
Categories: International, Science, Hope, love, Animal Rights, news, Photography
The mother takes the lead as she shows her young how it's done, but manages to lose a couple which had been hitching a ride on her back
Water rush: The proud swan parents who take their newborns on their first family adventure... up a raging cascade
Water rush: The proud swan parents who take their newborns on their first family adventure... up a raging cascade
Like any new parents, these swans are naturally protective of their off-spring as they take to the water for the first time.
Gliding gracefully along the water, the family look like they don't have a care in the world.
But their first outing doesn't go quite according to plan as they face their first challenge together - getting up a small waterfall.
The family all look a little unsure of how to navigate their way up the water
Facing such a task can be challenging at the best of times, let alone when you have five young babies in tow.
But, not allowing a small thing like a waterfall to get in the way of a good time, the mother shows her children just how it's done.
The pair, who introduced their brood to the delights of the Irish country waters this week, were trying to show their hatchlings how to make it up a waterfall.
The brave mother went first and after a couple of attempts made it up - minus her young.
But her newborns struggled to get up the small embankment and despite the best efforts of both parents, and even hitching a ride on their backs, could not make it up.
Despite several attempts, common sense eventually prevailed and the family were forced to make the rest of the journey on dry land.
The proud parent waits patiently up top but the newborns are unable to make it up, forcing the family to complete the rest of the journey on dry land
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