Have you ever seen baby birds covered in soft, fluffy feathers called down? These little chicks are very cute but also very fragile because their fluffy feathers can get wet easily.
Water birds, like swans, live in and around water where it can be hard for tiny chicks to stay dry. If the chicks get too wet, they can get cold and might get sick. To keep their babies warm and safe, mother swans carry their fluffy chicks on their backs when they swim. This way, the baby birds stay dry even when the water is chilly or when it rains.
Carrying the chicks also helps them stay safe from animals that might want to harm them. The mommy bird stays close and watches over them while giving them a comfy ride!
So, when you see a swan gliding on the water with little yellow fuzzballs on its back, you now know it's because the mommy wants to keep her babies warm, dry, and protected.