The male and female swan take turns incubating the eggs and protecting the nest from predators. Once the eggs hatch, both parents feed and protect the cygnets. The cygnets stay close to their parents and follow them everywhere they go. The cygnets learn how to fly by watching and following their parents in flight.
The family group stays together until the cygnets are old enough to survive independently. This typically occurs when they are about a year old. By then, the cygnets have learned all the skills they need to survive on their own. They can fly, find food, and avoid predators. The cygnets then leave their parents and start their own lives.