- September 5, 2026
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Two of the swans that call Longboat Key home generated quite a stir this summer when they hatched a set of fluffy cygnets.
Now, the children of Donald and Lydia have grown into a pair of nearly adult mute swans, and their caretakers are looking ahead to what the future holds for them.
"Right now, we're just keeping our fingers crossed that they do well, and the swans keep doing what they're doing, raising the children," Longtime swan caretaker David Novak said.
Multiple swan pairs reside in the Bay Isles area on Longboat Key. Lydia and Donald successfully hatched six cygnets last April. Rudy and Loretta hatched three babies as well.
One other swan pair, Frank and Andi, did make a nest and lay eggs this summer. But, those eggs went missing, and the couple did not hatch any others.
Novak said Lydia and Donald's family garnered quite a bit of attention from Longboat Key residents, especially among photographers and birders. Lydia has produced multiple clutches over the years with her current partner and an earlier partner, Chuck.
However, the story took a tragic turn when Lydia was killed about three months ago. Novak said an eyewitness believed a large dog to be the culprit.
Swan parents are known for their fiercely protective, territorial nature. Losing Lydia was a blow, but Novak said the father stepped up to care for the children on his own.
"Donald instinctively moved the cygnets to their usual locations along Bay Isles Parkway and resumed life without Lydia," Novak explained in an update after finding Lydia lifeless on the golf course nearby.
The weakest cygnets struggled to survive, and two of the original six have made it. The swans' fans mourned their loss, sharing their sympathies online.
Novak shares their sadness at seeing the babies struggle, but he is still grateful to see the survivors grow into healthy, beautiful birds.
Though swan parents are attentive watchdogs while their young are still learning how to swim, forage and take care of themselves, the adults do typically push their offspring from the nest when they are old enough.
That may not be far off, considering the juveniles are about two months from adulthood. But Novak said he doesn't have any plans to intervene and separate the family members, neither the group with both parents nor with just the father.
Eventually, he will relocate them elsewhere to avoid territory disputes, but the swans will likely remain on Longboat Key. In the past, some of Longboat's swans have gone to other locations with swan populations, including Camelot Lakes.
"With Donald, who has been a single parent, he will be chasing them away, but it's going to be a bit different because he has no mate," he said.
Novak said he will keep a close eye on the widower once the cygnets fly the nest and is making plans with fellow swan expert Bob Knox. Novak has noticed a solo female swan in the area, and he may consider introducing them to one another to see if it could be a match.
"Or, we might let him see if he finds a partner on his own," Novak said.
Novak is optimistic about the potential for new swans from the families next year, and he hopes Longboaters will follow along as enthusiastically as they did this year.
"This has been an extraordinary year where public interest in swans has been at a very high level," Novak said. "Thousands of photos were taken and many friendships were formed. Let this Longboat Key legacy continue."
