SCHUYLKILL HAVEN - Rammy, a female swan, is nesting once again at Stoyer's Dam in Bubeck Park, Schuylkill Haven.
This year, there are eight eggs. When Rammy leaves the nest for food, Rambo, the male, takes over protecting the eggs and keeping them warm.
"She's been rotating her eggs now about every 15 minutes," said Paul Seiders, who, along with his wife, Helen, are members of the Swan Patrol. The patrol feeds and looks out for the safety of the swans.
About 5 p.m. Thursday, Rammy got up and gently pushed and turned the mostly tan eggs in the nest of straw. A borough worker put the straw there earlier in the year. The swan's eggs are rotated to keep them from being deformed.
One egg was grayish in color, which was the first gray egg Rammy has laid, Seiders said.
"Probably by Mother's Day, there might be one (cygnet)," Seiders said.
The cygnets, or young swans, are expected to hatch some time this week. Paul and Helen said they will name the cygnets when they hatch.
"You can see when they hatch. That is something you never want to miss," Seiders said, adding, "As soon as they're born, there is going to be a lot of people here."
Tina Kostura was in the area and stopped by Thursday. She saw the cygnets last year, saying they are cute when they are small. She added that they are gray after hatching and their feathers later molt and turn white.
"It doesn't seem like that long ago, and here's another year," Kostura said.
Last year, there were four baby swans that hatched from a nest of seven eggs. However, one swan baby was killed, one was stolen, one died of lead poisoning and one was given away.
As an extra precaution, a fence was put up to protect the swans this year from the public.