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At midday
today, walking across the causeway in the Nerang Pool (Commonwealth Park)
we saw a Black Swan sitting on a (small, almost inconspicuous) nest on
an island in the eastern pool. By the time we
had walked round the western pool,
the swan was off the nest and in a most elegant “courting dance” with
another
swan – which culminated in them mating.
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One of the
birds then returned to the nest (which a Dusky Moorhen was walking in),
in
which there were two eggs, and resumed sitting.
Robin Hide
Perkins, Harvey wrote:
I drive/ride past there regularly as well, and there have been at least
three different nests built on the pond since about mid-January when I
first noticed them.
The nests are built very quickly - seemingly a matter of a day or two.
But they, or at least the first one, disappeared just as quickly. I
speculated at the time that it may have been dismantled by 'Parks'
staff, as I don't think it would be a very safe place for swans to try
to raise a family. The swans sat on the first nest for about a week
before it 'disappeared'.
Can't say I've noticed any difference in water level over the past
months, but then I believe the water level is in equilibrium with the
ponds in Commonwealth Park. So even a flood flush would subside very
quickly. But given the stagnant weedy state of the pond I wouldn't have
thought the pond has had much flushing lately.
I haven't noticed the swans sitting on the subsequent nests to the
degree they did on the first nest.
Caveat: all comments and interpretations based on brief observations in
morning and afternoon peak hour traffic.
With respect to Alison's original question re breeding season, Black
Swans in Canberra are very relaxed about their breeding timetable and
seem to breed whenever they feel conditions are suitable.
Harvey
Harvey Perkins
CRC Strategy and Communication Section
_______________________________________
Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research
-----Original Message-----
From: m("fwi.net.au","fantram");"> [m("fwi.net.au","fantram");">]
Sent: Tuesday, 3 March 2009 10:23 PM
To: Paul Fennell; 'Alison Mackerras'; m("canberrabirds.org.au","canberrabirds");">
Subject: swans nesting?
This is actually their (assume same pair) second attempt....last nest
was flooded out....seems odd saying that, but it's true!....in january,
I think it was, or late last year.
Regards
Frank Antram
-----Original message-----
From: "Paul Fennell" m("grapevine.com.au","ptf");">
Date: Tue, 03 Mar 2009 21:14:34 +1100
To: "'Alison Mackerras'" m("mackerras.id.au","alison");">,
m("canberrabirds.org.au","canberrabirds");">
Subject: swans nesting?
I saw the nest this evening, and it looked like a goer to me.
Although with a lot of rain the nest might be submerged in the pond.
Paul Fennell
ABR Editor
02 6254 1804
0407 105 460
-----Original Message-----
From: Alison Mackerras [m("mackerras.id.au","alison");">]
Sent: Tuesday, 3 March 2009 8:17 PM
To: m("canberrabirds.org.au","canberrabirds");">
Subject: swans nesting?
A pair of swans appear to have built a nest in the pond in the middle
of the roundabout at the intersection of Parkes Way and Coranderrk St
in Civic. I can't tell whether there are any eggs. Is this early or
extremely late? Pizzey and Knight say that swans breed between April
and October in southern Australia but any month after suitable rains!!
Do these swans know something about the prospect of autumn rain that
we don't?
Alison Mackerras
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