Don Balke (North Carolina, B. 1933) "White Swan" Signed lower left. Original Watercolor painting on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. Pristine white plumage, contrasting dark legs and long, gracefully curved necks characterize the mute or white swan. Easily tamed, these are the birds of zoos, city parks and country estates. As might be gathered from their name, mute swans are most often non-vocal. However, when angered they reveal an aggressive side by hissing or snorting. Mute swans form pair bonds that for the most part last a lifetime, although pairs occasionally separate and some males are polygamous. They claim up to 10 acres of nesting territory, which they forcefully defend from other swans and return to year after year. Nest sites are located in large collections of cattails or bulrushes, or on small islands and peninsulas along the shoreline. On the average, females lay four eggs which require 36 to 38 days of incubation. Image Size: 14 x 12 in. Overall Size: 21 x 19 in. Unframed. (B12949) See More