Black Swan

He's survived fish hooks, oil spills and the less-than-desirable Newport Bay water, but after about 15 years, the unofficial Newport Peninsula mascot Rupert has died. A Newport Harbor Patrol boat struck him while responding to reports of a body floating in the harbor Wednesday, authorities said. The deputy driving the boat saw Rupert swim out of the mooring area and tried to avoid the swan but because of a large marker in the water was unable to steer completely clear, Harbor Patrol Sgt. David Ginther said.

The large, black swan appeared out of nowhere, Bill Spitalnick said, casting a shadow over the spot in Newport Harbor where he and his family had just scattered his father’s ashes. Spitalnick didn’t realize the swan was Rupert until four days later, when he saw a newspaper report detailing the swan’s death. Rupert was well known in the waters around Newport Beach. The swan was accidentally struck by a speeding Orange County Sheriff’s Harbor Patrol boat on its way to retrieve a human body found in the water in 2006.

It seems nowadays everyone and everything has a MySpace page: films, people, bands, even birds. One of the newest members to join the popular networking website cannot type — doesn't even have fingers — and, in fact, is no longer alive. Still, Rupert the black swan has managed to transcend even death to join the ranks of Web posters this week. A page on the website created by Phoebe Shackeroff, director of a documentary on Newport Beach's enduring mascot, features photos, paintings and Rupert trivia.

After surviving so many near misses, Newport Beach's unofficial mascot, Rupert, finally ran out of time last week. Rupert, the black swan who made a pleasant nuisance of himself — gently attacking swimmers, floating up to boats in search of hand-outs and getting in various misadventures during the 15 or so years he was here — finally was done in by his curiosity. Always attracted to red boats, Rupert swam in front of a Harbor Patrol cruiser on its way to a crime scene Wednesday afternoon and was killed.

As those who loved Rupert the black swan prepare to remember him in a ceremony on the bay, a Newport Beach businessman has offered to buy the city new swans. Rupert, who lived around Newport Harbor and the Balboa Peninsula for about 15 years, died Wednesday after he was struck by a harbor patrol boat hurrying to an emergency call. The swan is being cremated, and a memorial will be held later, but no date has been set. The Newport-based Imua Outrigger Canoe Club has offered to lead a paddle-out ceremony with a traditional Hawaiian blessing to scatter his ashes.

-- Alex Coolman The black swan that was nearly killed when it swam through diesel fuel in Newport Harbor last week was returned to the wild Monday after recuperating from its injuries. Rupert the swan, a fowl favorite among locals, had been resting up at the Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center in Huntington Beach in the wake of his mishap Aug. 8. The swan was nearly dead when it was rescued by Harbor Patrol Officials. Care center workers said that after being cleaned and fed a liquid charcoal solution to soak up the oil he had ingested, Rupert made a speedy recovery.

Rupert is gone. And a lot of people are not happy about it. Rupert, the black swan who was a floating fixture in Newport Harbor for the past 15 years, was accidentally run over Sept. 13 by a Harbor Patrol boat racing to investigate a report of a dead body in the harbor, which turned out to be all too true. The victim was later identified as a Huntington Beach woman who had been killed elsewhere and dumped in the harbor. It was a horrific crime that certainly outweighed Rupert's passing, but the black swan's death sent a shock wave through the harbor community because Rupert had an army of fans.

Mathis Winkler NEWPORT HARBOR -- As Chloe the cat and Pobre Cito the Chihuahua settled in for a Monday morning nap, a celebrity was probably the last thing the two mascots at All Creatures Care Cottage in Costa Mesa expected to see carried through the door. But then, around 10 a.m., the arrival of Newport Harbor's beloved troublemaker caused some commotion in the otherwise sleepy animal hospital. Orange County Harbor Patrol officers had lifted Rupert, a black swan, out of his stomping grounds after a fish hook got caught in his beak and a string of fishing line had injured his throat.

The third installment of the "Narnia" films seeks to revive the series as a continuing movie franchise. The producers made a real effort to restore the magical qualities of this fantasy adventure tale. They definitely succeed on a technical level. The special effects are spectacular. Maxfields Parrish and Claude Monet could be listed as art directors. The many vistas on the screen are gorgeous to behold. But the rest of the story fails to capture the deeper meaning of the C.S. Lewis "Narnia" novels, on which the films are based.

The large, black swan appeared out of nowhere, Bill Spitalnick said, casting a shadow over the spot in Newport Harbor where he and his family had just scattered his father’s ashes. Spitalnick didn’t realize the swan was Rupert until four days later, when he saw a newspaper report detailing the swan’s death. Rupert was well known in the waters around Newport Beach. The swan was accidentally struck by a speeding Orange County Sheriff’s Harbor Patrol boat on its way to retrieve a human body found in the water in 2006.

It seems nowadays everyone and everything has a MySpace page: films, people, bands, even birds. One of the newest members to join the popular networking website cannot type — doesn't even have fingers — and, in fact, is no longer alive. Still, Rupert the black swan has managed to transcend even death to join the ranks of Web posters this week. A page on the website created by Phoebe Shackeroff, director of a documentary on Newport Beach's enduring mascot, features photos, paintings and Rupert trivia.

Rupert the swan's story should be an inspiration Joe Bell, your curve is distorted this time ("Ticket will pay admission to inspiration," the Bell Curve, Jan. 11). Why wouldn't Rupert, the Black Swan, a graceful work of nature's world, be the second biggest story of 2006? He was an inspiration! How would you like to be taken from your parents, plopped in a nonnative living space (a cage) without your family or any friends? He had no idea where to find food, fresh water, how to dodge giant yachts and people who didn't respect nature.

Everyone in Newport Beach has their own theory on how Rupert the black swan arrived in the harbor waters all those years ago. Dariela Wilson is one of them — only she has a vivid way of expressing it. Wilson, who has lived on the Balboa Peninsula since childhood, chose to commemorate the late Rupert's history the only way she knew how — through painting. Her work captures Rupert and his mate Pearl, who died in 2001 from an infection, lovingly cruising the waters of the harbor together.

Rupert is gone. And a lot of people are not happy about it. Rupert, the black swan who was a floating fixture in Newport Harbor for the past 15 years, was accidentally run over Sept. 13 by a Harbor Patrol boat racing to investigate a report of a dead body in the harbor, which turned out to be all too true. The victim was later identified as a Huntington Beach woman who had been killed elsewhere and dumped in the harbor. It was a horrific crime that certainly outweighed Rupert's passing, but the black swan's death sent a shock wave through the harbor community because Rupert had an army of fans.

NEWPORT HARBOR — A flotilla of canoes, kayaks, boats and gondolas gathered at the mouth of the harbor Saturday to say goodbye to Rupert, the beloved black swan accidentally killed last month by a Harbor Patrol boat rushing to an emergency. As the Australian black swan's ashes were sprinkled into the ocean Saturday morning, members of the Imua Outrigger Canoe Club raised their oars as a sign of respect for the bird. The club and the Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center in Huntington Beach organized the traditional Hawaiian paddle-out ceremony in memory of the swan, known for his grouchy but endearing disposition.

An unnamed male Australian black swan meant to replace the beloved Rupert, who was accidentally killed this month, will indefinitely remain in an animal hospital after the California Department of Fish and Game put a stop to plans to release the bird into Upper Newport Bay. An anonymous local man bought the swan to essentially replace Rupert, the Australian Black Swan killed by a Harbor Patrol boat racing to an emergency call, said Dr. Jim Rich,...