Up Close and Personal...

When I took Zoe own her afternoon walk to Seafield Pond the swan family were sitting out on the grass. As we approached at a distance they all got up and marched after their mother back into the pool. The male swan took the rearguard action and marched up to us warning us from approaching any closer. I thought it was rather different from the usual  human scenario when the male tends to march ahead of the family and mother stays behind to ensure there are no stragglers or maybe I am just speaking for myself here.