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Black Swan

(Cygnus atratus)
Aboriginal names: "baiamul", "koolyn", "mooroocoochin", "barayamal" [gamilaraay], "burunda" [gamilaraay]
Size: 1.1-1.4 m

Habitat
(for details refer to a field guide)

Black Swans range over more than half of the Australian continent. Depending on the availability of water, they can be found anywhere except the most arid regions, i.e. the western half of WA, the south-western corner of the NT and the eastern half of SA. They are most common along the eastern, south-eastern and south-western seaboard, most of the Great Dividing Range and the Murray-Darling Basin.

Black Swans have a preference for habitats with open water surrounded by dense vegetation, such as lakes, swamps, mudflats and also dams with dense reeds.

Sightings

Black Swans can be seen regularly at Narrabri Lake, in Narrabri, NSW. We have also spotted them in other locations in the Narrabri area after the significant rainfalls of May/June 2007. A small number stayed around Narrabri Lake throughout the winter of 2008. Seen also during the winter of 2010. In March 2006 a pair of Black Swans rested at our neighbour's billabong, 20 km south of Narrabri, before heading on.

Seen as far inland as Walgett, NSW, in temporary wetlands in April 2009.

Also spotted by us in many locations in central QLD, in particular also, in large numbers, in the wetlands of Capricorn Resort, Yeppoon, in July 2009. Special access to the wetlands kindly granted by the owners of Capricorn Resort is most gratefully acknowledged. Later we have also spotted Black Swans in many locations along the NSW coast and in the northern tablelands (e.g. Dangars Lagoon near Uralla, NSW).

We also saw some in the Geraldton area (Western Australia) in March 2003.

Photos

Lateral view of a male Black Swan

The same male as shown above, now with its partner

Here a photo with better colour contrast

Pair of Black Swans feeding in shallow water; the female (front) has just plucked something from the mud

Life is not all black and white; there can also be the occasional speck of red

Here a pair taking off in a hurry

Adult with chicks near water edge

Close-up view of Black Swan chicks (photo obtained in the wetlands of Capricorn Resort, Yeppoon, in July 2009; see credits page for details)

Black Swan chicks

Breeding information

Breeding season: Jul - Sep Eggs: 5 - 6 Incubation period: 35 - 45 days Fledging age: 120 - 160 days

The breeding season depends significantly on geographical latitude. In the tropical north Black Swans breed Feb - Apr. Given the right conditions, they can breed any time of the year.

Nest

Type: Basket Material: Reeds Height above ground: N/A

For unknown reasons the nest shown below was later abandoned. The birds that had been observed there were subsequently not spotted any longer either, while elsewhere in the region Black Swans went about their breeding business. They returned out of the high reeds two months later, with their young.

Black Swan nesting at Narrabri Lake in the 2010 breeding season

The same bird as shown above, snoozing on its nest

Eggs

Size: 105 x 66 mm Colour: Creamy green Shape: Tapered oval

View into the nest shown above when the bird had temporarily left it unattended; there seems to be at least one cream-coloured egg visible

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Communal Mobility: Nomadic Elementary unit: Pair/flock

After the nest described above was abandoned, we only spotted occasionally a single Black Swan at Narrabri Lake for about 2 months. In late November 2010 then the first family emerged out of dense reeds, with their offspring (see photo).

Family of Black Swans with three juveniles

Food

Like all other geese, ducks and swans, Black Swans are vegetarian. They feed on underwater plants.