A swan couple hatched six eggs at the end of April, 2005 in Bayou Metairie in City Park. Five of the babies survived and they were nurtured and protected by the parents night and day. The father swan fought many battles with dogs and other predators to protect the cygnets.
On August 29 a major hurricane named Katrina struck a disastrous blow to New Orleans. For weeks the swans were unaccounted for and were found on October 9 in a lagoon at Audubon Park, some ten miles away. However, the father and two of the cygnets are still missing. This gallery shows the mother and three cygnets in Audubon Park. Hopefully, one day they can return to City Park when it is restored from the hurricane.
Eventually the cygnets went off on their own and mama was left alone in Audubon Park, a very lonely and sad sight. No one ever tried to bring her a mate.