 gently holding onto your pant leg? I have…it is an awesome happening that forever remains a vivid memory. This is only one of many unique events my husband Ralph and I experienced during a multi-year relationship with mute swans.” Phyllis M. Washburn
The book, Good Morning Sam, invites the reader to journey with Ralph and me on our twenty-four-year odyssey as we learned about mute swans and formed in-depth relationships with four particular swans. Our first swan relationship began with a mute swan known locally
as Sam. What started as a casual happenstance of tossing bread from the wharf evolved
into a long-lasting
relationship with this unique wild bird. As Sam’s level of trust in us grew, he
accepted our presence in his natural habitat. Knowing of the mute swan’s
aggressive behavior, we invariably let Sam decide how quickly the relationship
developed. We observed that Sam displayed characteristics that were uniquely
his; subtle differences in behavior from the other mute swans we observed. It
was because of Sam’s acceptance of us that we also experienced close, intimate
relationships with three other swans. Little One, Missy and Samantha each displayed little
behavior mannerisms distinctively their own. " 'Good Morning, Sam' is a remarkable
real-life tale of humans befriending animals--without making
them into pets or playthings. It reminded me of Jane Goodall
and her chimps, in a way. The story is a rare one and the
pictures are incredible. A must-read for animal-lovers."
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