Hi there! Do you know swan babies? They are called cygnets. When cygnets are very little, they have soft, fluffy feathers that keep them warm but are not very strong yet.
Swans, especially mom swans, help their babies by letting them ride on their backs. This keeps the little chicks safe and warm, especially when they are in the water. Since the babies can't swim very well and their fluff doesn't repel water like grown-up feathers do, riding on their mom's back helps keep them dry and safe from cold water and predators.
As the baby swans grow, their soft fluff slowly changes into strong, waterproof feathers. When they have their real feathers, they can swim easily on their own and don't need to ride on their mom's back anymore.
So, swans are very caring parents who make sure their babies are warm, safe, and ready to swim all by themselves!