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

took over the position of Swan Father from his father Harald in 1996.

Each couple has about four to six young swans in the breeding season.

Olaf Ness suggested, "We can visit around Alster by my boat." We sailed past chic villa areas, greeted residents and abandoned swan breeding grounds with Caja the working dog. These breeding grounds consist of brown wooden stakes that visually reconcile with the small woods on the slopes. With the arrival of spring, monogamous swan couples return to their nests and begin to breed their own generation. "After mating, they run around, collecting branches and repairing their old nests," explained by Ness. Each couple of swans will have approximately four to six offspring per breeding season. In order to keep the next generation from disturbing their parents during the next round of breeding, the young swans spend their first winter with their parents then they will move into a "bachelor apartment" in front of Rathaus Hamburg. They will find their life partner there, with any luck, they can go to the breeding grounds in the following summer.

Popular with locals and tourists

The swan around the virgin berm is one of the most popular postcard patterns in Hamburg. So what to look for when taking pictures? "A swan is dangerous if it is with its young baby and is seriously threatened. Basically, swans are very peaceful and friendly and they don't actively hurt people." Ness said, he might be the only Hamburg citizen who was seriously injured by a swan. Twenty years ago, two swans were once trapped in a pool of water in Allermöher at 15 degrees below zero. "I saw my glasses flew up into the sky and then I fell down in the icy water, felt the swan's wings flapping on my head. I was injured that time, but thankfully the swans were rescued."

What you need to know about Hamburg Swan

1. Where is the best place to watch the swan?

"Rathaus Hamburg Plaza is certainly the