Swans making a heart shape

In My Humble Opinion
1

I saw two white swans put their beaks together forming a heart shape with their long necks. Has anyone else observed this? I suspect they were perhaps engaged in some mating ritual. Could this be where we get the traditional Valentine heart symbol?

2
      • Yea right! -Yer ass! - DougC
3

??? DougC ???

4

I’ve seen it many times, but as to why they do it - no idea.

5

This photo (1st thumbnail) is sort of what I saw:

http://www.natureportfolio.com/birds/muteswan.htm

The swans I observed were in Stratford-upon-Avon.

6

My understanding of the courtship rituals of Mute Swans, is that consists of extended “ballets” of matched movement. So, yeah I’m sure it is a courtship display of some sort.

As to it possibly influencing the shape of the Valentine-style heart, I wouldn’t be surprised. Especially as I believe swans were a symbol of fidelity ( as well as poetic harmony ) in medieval Europe. Certainly I’ve seen that courting manouevre used in things like cartoons and greeting cards to symbolize hearts and eternal love. On the other hand, here is the Perfect Master’s take on the Valentine-shape:

http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_146.html

  • Tamerlane
7

Dave Barry wrote a column one time about an astute reader’s search through an anatomy book for any body part which physically resembled the well-known heart shape. The only one which was remotely close?

The prostate. He attempted to verify this fact thusly: