It’s not too late to catch a glimpse of the Charles River’s most famous couple and their family, although by the time you read this, the family is off the nest and swimming in the Charles. Crowds have flocked to see the Mute Swan pair who have built a nest and are now raising a family of four cygnets (baby swans), the first of which hatched Monday May 24.   Here are some photos.

They are a modern couple. The males share in the care of the nest and the incubation of the eggs. They are usually territorial about the nesting space although this pair seems unfazed by the people who line up to see them. They also have at least one turtle-in-residence who has been on the nest sharing the space for weeks. At the time this goes to press, the cygnets have taken to the water and begun to feed themselves. Swans mate for life although there are occasional “divorces,” particularly following a nesting failure. The remaining swan will find another mate.

On a sad note to this story that brought good news to all us ready for some, the mother swan died on June 1. From those who were there, we heard that she grew weaker and her mate would not leave her. When the cygnets went for a swim, he seemed torn between staying with her and protecting their young. At the end, the father left her for the last time and swam with the cygnets. Brad from the Boston Animal Rescue Control gently wrapped her body in a blanket and took her away. (We hope we find out more about the reason for her death.) We wish dad and the cygnets well.

— Jane Hilburt-Davis

Pictures from Mary Jo Bane, Jane Hilburt-Davis, and Ken Winston