canberrabirds

FW: [canberrabirds] Fight of the Swans

To: "" <>
Subject: FW: [canberrabirds] Fight of the Swans
From: Geoffrey Dabb <>
Date: Tue, 14 May 2019 04:35:42 +0000

Other birds at Kelly Swamp yesterday

 

A flock of seagulls are swimming in the water

Description automatically generated

 

From: Geoffrey Dabb <>
Sent: Tuesday, 14 May 2019 10:25 AM
To:
Subject: [canberrabirds] Fight of the Swans

 

Yesterday morning nineish, Kelly Swamp, fog lifting, dull light, 4 swans flew in, much honking.  They didn’t settle but swam around restlessly, separating into 2 groups of 2.  Below picture shows one ‘pair’ swimming rapidly close together, necks arched.  Suddenly fighting broke out within each ‘pair’, very aggressive, mutual pecking and neck-entwining, much spray.  They took flight after 20 seconds (photo-timed) with one member of each ‘pair’ chasing the other.

 

HANZAB says ‘FIGHTING:  Rare: occurs in confrontation, if rival fails to move away: beats with fully open wings at rival …’   ‘Neck-fighting’, involving prolonged wrestling with entwined necks, seems to be well-known among Mute Swans (much YouTube available) but not with Black Swans. Yesterday’s confrontations seemed more the school-yard variety (neck-fighting, wing-striking, biting included) rather than following any particular rule book.

 

 

<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>
  • FW: [canberrabirds] Fight of the Swans, Geoffrey Dabb <=
Admin

The University of NSW School of Computer and Engineering takes no responsibility for the contents of this archive. It is purely a compilation of material sent by many people to the Canberra Ornithologists Group mailing list. It has not been checked for accuracy nor its content verified in any way. If you wish to get material removed from the archive or have other queries about the list contact David McDonald, list manager, phone (02) 6231 8904 or email . If you can not contact David McDonald e-mail Andrew Taylor at this address: andrewt@cse.unsw.EDU.AU