This is part 1 of a story about a pair of nesting Black Swans. At this point, I’m concerned about the state of the swans’ eggs. I don’t know what part 2 will hold, but I do hope for a happy ending.

These two swans have been sitting on their nest since late August. I first saw them sitting on 23 August, and a park ranger told me that they’d been sitting for at least a few days by then. It’s now 9 December. That’s more than 15 weeks — more than 105 days.

The eggs of Black Swans usually hatch after 39-45 days.

This photo is from the first time that I saw the nest, on 23 August:

(Photo taken on 23 August 2024)

The swan’s nest is a large pile of reeds, positioned in shallow water in the middle of a large reed bed. It’s quite a distance from the shore on both sides, and well screened from entrance on the water too. From the shore, it’s not possible to see into the nest. I’m assuming there are eggs, because the swans are very diligent about sitting on the nest and occasionally it looks as if they gently prod the eggs with their beaks.

Here’s another photo from the early days:

(Photo taken on 24 August 2024)

The setting is tranquil and pretty:

(Photo taken on 2 September 2024)

The nest is near a popular bush walking path, and I’ve walked past it every few days. When the first period of 45 days went by with no cygnets appearing, I thought maybe the parents had decided that their first batch of eggs was infertile and had started again.

But now the second period of 45 days is well and truly passed, and I’m worried.

Both the male and the female swan are still actively looking after the nest. I’ve seen each of them sitting on the nest alone, and occasionally both of them tending the nest together. The nest is never without one of the swans sitting or standing over it.

(Photo taken on 3 October 2024)

The male and female take turns to sit on the nest. The next video shows the changing of the guard. One bird has been sitting all night, the other has arrived for the morning shift. One of the birds grooms itself, and they both do a bit of nest maintenance. If you listen carefully, you can hear the swans’ soft hoots as they chat to each other:

(Video taken on 1 October 2024)

Every now and then, the swans spend quite some time and energy clearing the reeds around the nest and building up the nest:

(Photo taken on 3 October 2024)

Despite the nest’s seclusion, plenty of ducks, coots, and moorhens swim around the nest, keeping the swans company. Every now and then other visitors appear, like this kookaburra:

(Photo taken on 4 October 2024)

And this Eastern Water Dragon:

(Photo taken on 17 November 2024)

On 1 October, a beautiful light-coloured Grey Goshawk made an appearance near the nest, and was chased away by currawongs and cockatoos:

(Photo taken on 1 October 2024. I wrote another post about the goshawk.)

Here’s a nice video of one of the swans seating itself carefully on the nest:

(Video taken on 28 October 2024)

In more recent days, the site of the nest has become less tranquil. Cicadas have crept up from the earth to celebrate the summer full blast, as only cicadas can do. Sulphur-crested Cockatoos collect in the tree tops, high above the nest. The cockatoos squawk and yell, outdoing even the cicadas. It’s a very noisy environment for a nest, but at least it gives the parent swans some company. At this stage, they’d been sitting on the nest for more than 100 days:

(Video taken on 29 November 2024)

When it’s their turn for a break from sitting on the nest, one of the adults heads off to another part of the dam to stretch and feed. Here, a pelican keeps the off-duty swan company:

(Photo taken on 9 September 2024)

It’s good to stretch and preen:

(Photo taken on 9 September 2024)

In the next video, one of the swans comes in close to shore for a good stretch. Eastern Koel cuckoos and cicadas dominate the sound waves. On a rock nearby, an Eastern Water Dragon looks on:

(Video taken on 21 November 2024)

In the next video, a Great Cormorant watches on as the swan preens and fluffs its wings. Cockatoos, Eastern Koels, and Channel-billed cuckoos call in the distance:

(Video taken on 29 November 2024)

As I write this post, December has arrived and the bush has a surfeit of insects. It’s very noisy at the swans’ nest. Two kookaburras dropped by and chatted a bit. Moths flap past, cicadas shriek, and a dead heat beats down on the nest:

(Video taken on 6 December 2024)

The last time I visited the nest was yesterday, 8 December. The swans were still sitting. Two kookaburras dropped by again and the cicadas were still very noisy.

I’ll keep a look out to see what’s happening at the nest next time I pass. I do hope to see the two swans relieved of their nesting duties. It would be wonderful to see some little ones to reward their amazing dedication. Even if there are no cygnets, though, it’d be good to see the adults roaming free again, ready for another go at raising a family next year.

(Photo taken on 8 December 2024)

Good luck, patient swans!

Update on 10 April 2025: Black Swans abandon nest after 8 months (part 2 of story).

Common name: Black Swan
Scientific name: Cygnus atratus
Approximate length: 120 cm
Date spotted: 23 August through to 8 December, 2024 (late winter, through spring, going into early summer)
Approximate location: Manly Dam Park, New South Wales, Australia