Hamburg "residents" return to Alster with new goose-fury coats

From 15 April until November, these noble and elegant Hamburg "residents " will cross waterways and canals, raising up their offspring under the care of the Swan Father.

Release time : 2020-05-15 18:13:12

source : Hamburg Tourismus GmbH

Spring on the calendar is one thing, and the swans returning from their winter habitat each year follow another set of their calendar. Only when these goose-suited "residents" in Hamburg - the swans - resettle on the city's shores did it mean that spring have really arrived in Hamburg. From 15 April until November, these noble and elegant Hamburg "residents" will cross waterways and canals, raising up their offspring under the care of the Swan Father.

A swan cooed among four small blue boats. There are about 120 such swans in all, their long, white necks stretch from the water in the direction of the sun, the fresh breeze blows on the Alster. Every year the first real spring day in Hamburg presents this beautiful scene. Every year, the swans of Alster leave their winter habitat in Eppendorfer Mühlenteich and return to Hamburg. After more than four months staying in a artificial pond with frost-proof facilities, the white-feathered city landmark has returned to Alster, led by Swan Father, Olaf Ness, and his assistants.

"To this day, they are considered as a symbol of freedom and economic independence for Hanse."

--Olaf Ness, Swan Father.

"Our connection with swans goes back to the 11th century," Olaf Ness explained in his office a few weeks ago, " in the past, only princes and nobles owned swans. Today, they are still considered a symbol of freedom and economic independence for Hanse." Even in international diplomatic field, the Swan has been given for many times as a national gift to cities at home and abroad. Therefore, the swan is crucial for Hamburg. Thus, since 1674, the position of forest hunter has existed in the municipal office, which is also affectionately known as - Swan Father, the oldest government position in Hamburg. The Olaf Ness family has been doing this for two generations, and he actually studied marketing before. Later, he went through six and a half years of vocational training and