Save Black Swan Lake

Parent Swan sits on eggs

Parent swans change shifts on eggs – incubation from 35 to 40 days

Save Black Swan Lake June 2014

• Concerned local residents initiated Wildlife Preservation Society’s support. Residents doorknocked the area and encountered widespread support for the lake, used by many, as a recreation, relaxation and children’s wildlife education.

• Residents & Friends of Black Swan Lake was formed. • Many neighbourhood gardens display Save Black Swan Lake signs.• Televised footage of the initial controversial efforts to fill this

thriving habitat engaged the attention of a large number of Gold Coasters.

• The support base and the awareness of this water-bird sanctuary has only increased. The public want to save this publicly-owned precious habitat – now becoming rare in the urbanised Gold Coast.

• It has important remnant vegetation needed by birds to nest.

Interested visitors at Save Black Swan Lake rally 6th June 14

After swim swan family come up incline – one struggling lame cygnet

Tired cygnets rest on grass

The six cygnets feed on grass

Sunset Black Swan Lake

Swan family in the evening

Wildlife Preservation Society of Qld (Gold Coast & Hinterland Branch) President gains overwhelming support, through signatures

gained at the Gold Coast Show 2014, to preserve this publicly-owned lake. The society dedicates itself to the survival of plant & animal species. Preservation of these visually beautiful places is also vital

for local residents, our children and grandchildren.

Ibis on Roost tree

Magpie Geese also use Roost tree

Magpie Geese on fence with mostlyShe-oak in the background

Members of Birds Qld (Ornithological Society of Qld) and

Birdlife Australia beneath arching

eucalypts & paperbarks where a bird count recorded 400 in one hour at

the lake.

Late in 2014 the lake began to dry out – these Dusky Moorhens nested & they feed in shallows with their chick

Various migratory birds visit the lake – groups of Black-winged Stilts fed in the shallows with resident birds

This Black-winged feeds with a Dusky Moore-hen

chick

Feeding in the weeds & mud

Magpie Geese leave tracks in the mud – much of the weed is gone including island nests built by hopeful birds

Magpie Geese wading in shallow water

The Magpie-geese tried to nest here but it was inundated

A Black Cormorant dries its wings – they have little oil on their feathers so they can swim underwater & fish

The Magpie-goose family share this log with this tortoise on the far side of the Lake – they

swam off before I photographed them

Over December January the Magpie tried to nest just here but rising waters drowned the nest & they finally nested across the lake.

The Magpie Goose family consists of the parents, our 2 new goslings & probably a sibling from the last family on 21st March15

The rains stimulated many families of Black Ducks to hatch.

It is rare for Black Duck ducklings to survive to this age – these were very game little birds

In still warm weather Welcome Swallows are busy flying over the lake eating flies & mozzies. Their rest branch.

In March 2015 many Purple Swamp-hens nested.

Purple Swamp-hen feeds her chicks – picks up food & tears it up into suitable size

In 2015 our Swans reinforced their bonding rituals & tried to nest again. As the old nest was inundated & new one this side was also they nested somewhere over the other side of the lake & have a

new family.

2015 Swans mate for life - more courting rituals.

22nd March 2015 – Children's Day Swans with new cygnets – great photo by Nina of new cygnets, one on Mums back – what a final downpour- we even got wet under the tent

.

21March 2015 Royal Spoonbill on top of lookout tree - it usually filters small organisms on the edge of our Lake

Underneath remnant Paperbark Swamp vegetation Dave Warth(maker of the award winning “Tarkine” documentary) films Lin

Sutherland making our Save Black Swan Lake documentary

Linny & Dave making documentary

Please let our Lake not be THE END