Nearly all the photographs in the Observer and this website are courtesy of Lou Newman, a veterinarian turned Wildlife Photographer whose first assignment with the swans was to chronicle the 2007 birth and raising of cygnets. As fate would have it, the joy of the hatchlings turned into tragedy on the third day as Gracie encountered avian botulism toxin in the water. The photo of the dying Gracie's limp neck being nudged from the water by George stunned the Observer's readers and wildlife enthusiasts around the world, forever elevating Gracie, George, and their progeny to be the much loved icons they are today, fitting symbols of Fidelity, Beauty, and Family.

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The swans provide us, in a compact lifetime, a series of events that encapsulate the essence of life. We learn from them, we relate to their relationships and conflicts, we share their happiness and sympathize in their sad times. We stop our cars to just look, to take photographs, to get out and guide them as they cross the street. We know them, follow their lives, and deep down we draw parallels to our own lives. Nature is powerful, and we all share in it.