When we drive, walk, or bike past the Mill Pond, most of us slow down and glance sideways to see what’s happening. Something always is, though it’s easy to miss if one cruises through at 35 miles an hour — which is way over the speed limit. The return of the swans promises that spring is here to stay, and reminds us that, as Tennyson wrote, “Tho’ much is taken, much abides.”
Last year Bob and Bobette, as the swans are widely known, raised a family. We watched in fascination. We worried when they vanished to parts unknown (possibly nearby Tisbury Great Pond) and rejoiced when they came back. We grieved when a young swan fell victim to one of the snapping turtles that lives in the pond, despite the heroic efforts of our animal control officer to save it.
These photos of 2013’s swan family were taken by Martina Mastromonaco, Chilmark beach superintendent, dedicated Dumptique volunteer, and a wonderful photographer. She moderates three groups on Facebook: “Martha’s Vineyard where are you,” “Where am I on Martha’s Vineyard,” and “Martha’s Vineyard were was I?” Even if you know the Vineyard well, her photos and those of other regular contributors will show you the island from new angles, in different lights.
State Road passes close to the Mill Pond.
Note Vineyard Transit Authority bus passing in the background.
Bobette and her brood pay less attention to passersby than passersby pay to them.
All photographs © 2014 by Martina Mastromonaco
From the Seasonally Occupied Territories . . . 
Beautiful images!
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How absolutely beautiful!
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Thank you sooooooooo Much. anytime and thing you just ask. If I dont have it Ill go take it ha ha ha.
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Not to worry — I am going to ask. 🙂 People really like the swans!
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When I was growing up in Minneapolis my mother used to take to me to Loring Park, which was on the southern fringe of downtown. Its pond was even larger than your Mill Pond and it, too, had swans who lived there. I don’t remember seeing baby swans but I did think those adults were beautiful — serene and regal. One afternoon (I was about 4 or 5 years old), Mother was reading a book on a bench near the pond and I was playing alone not far from her. Suddenly one of the swans inexplicably charged at me, huge wings flapping and head and neck extended right at my eye level, hissing fiercely. I was so shocked that I couldn’t move, but Mother lunged up from the bench and got between me and the swan and somehow she chased it off. That was an early life lesson for me: Some things are not as benign as they appear to be. I’ve been uneasy around large birds ever since.
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I remember a goose in a barnyard going after my sister once. I was about 12, which would have made her about 4. The goose was almost as tall as she was. Very scary.
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Beautiful photos!
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Aren’t they?? The Vineyard has some pretty wonderful photographers, but Martina is one of the best — and probably the least recognized, because so far her work is mainly seen online.
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