Landing Gear Deployed

There was tremendous commotions and goings on down at the pond today. I have never seen the swans as agitated. It looked like the parents were trying to get the message across to their youngsters that it was time for them to buzz off and get a life for themselves. They kept on charging at the cygnets, causing them to take flight. The cygnets would take to the air, return after flying one complete circuit only to be chased off again with much flapping and rather inelegant landings and take offs.
I love the way they lower ther huge feet on approach. These act like huge air brakes whittling off the flight speed and on hitting the water they take the velocity off even quicker. Almost instantly in fact.
I think the parents must be thinking that breeding season is about to begin.