A Cwmbran bus stop has been confusing the swans at Llantarnam Ponds. Eight cygnets were born at the end of May and they have been a popular attraction with visitors.
But a nearby bus stop was making the male swan anxious as his reflection was making him think he had a rival. The confusion meant he was often walking across the road and hissing and rearing his wings up at his own reflection.
The eight cyngets and his partner would often walk behind him as he went to attack the intruder.
Stephen Jones who works at nearby Bron Afon was worried so he contacted the Swans Trust. Volunteers there contacted the council who yesterday fitted a material across the bottom windows to block any reflection.
You can see the grey material on the bottom half of the bus stop
Stephen said: “It is mostly the male that has been crossing the road to fight the ‘intruder’ but the family have followed on several occasions which is dangerous. On Monday, I noticed the female at one end of the lake with all the chicks huddled in a group looking rather forlorn.
“The male was in the bus stop. As soon as I chaperoned the male swan across the road and back into the pond, the cygnets all together cheeped and rushed towards their dad. The male took off in their direction to meet them. When he met the family he expressed himself by raising up into the air (see the photo below). Torfaen Council popped along yesterday and put a material layer on the glass to hide the reflection.”
