These almost mystical creatures are caught doing what has doomed hundreds of their Eastern Shore cousins. The mute swan population here has mushroomed to the point that they're threatening the survival of the Chesapeake Bay and its seafood by devouring huge amounts of water grasses daily. Traditional population control measures (shaking or painting eggs with oil) aren't sufficient, so approval has just been given to shoot many of the swans. Where in other areas you might spot a swan pair, on the Eastern Shore you can see a dozen, up to a hundred of the majestic birds.