A Match Made in Heaven? Or Just a Sad Swan Song?

It all started in the merry month of May -- you know, when the flowers are blooming, the birds are chirping, the bees are a-buzzin' and the love emotions start a-flowin'.

Well, this bird -- a swan -- was gliding through a lake, minding its own business, when Cupid shot his arrow. Plink! It was love at first sight.

The real, live swan was immediately love-struck when it beheld another of its kind gracing the middle of the lake.

A match made for Hollywood

The only problem was that the bird's new beloved was not only made of plastic, but also happened to be a paddle-boat styled as a swan that could pack at several passengers.

But love is love, and the swan clearly demonstrated its affections for its love object in subsequent months -- staring incessantly at the big, white paddle-boat, constantly swimming circles around it, and even crooning to try to capture the big bird's attention.

Apparently, the live swan failed to realize that its love interest was inanimate and would not return the swooning.

To top things off, the real swan has not only distinguished itself through its choice of partner, but also through its looks. It is not white, but black, and adorned with a bright red beak. It also happens to a native of Australia rather than Germany. Further, it has proven to be an exotic eye-catcher for the many joggers, bikers and boaters who spend time on or near the lake.

The enchanting story of this unlikely love has even become a Münster B-list trademark. Souvenir shops sell snow globes showing the odd couple as star-crossed lovers with a waterfront view.

A children's book about the swan love song is also in the making.

Bye, bye, my love

Yet like so many, this love story could also end in tragedy. Since swans are monogamous creatures, the black swan is a little "stuck" on the immense white one. With the cold season fast approaching, the paddle-boat will likely be torn away from its lover and dry-docked.

The black bird may just have one sad, sad swan song to sing come winter.

"Not to worry," said biologist Andrea Klein. "The Australian black swan is not really wild; otherwise, it wouldn't have fallen in love with the white paddle-boat swan in the first place."

She said the swan's chances for survival are good, despite losing its "life partner," as long as it gets enough food and water.