Black Swans are not generally seen at sea. However, swans from the Painkalac Creek are regularly seen in the ocean, 200+ metres off the beach. When I watch them from the Fairhaven beach, there is a group of 20-30 swans spread out over 50 metres, calmly floating around and seemingly doing nothing in particular. What is going on?
Swans at sea (photo by Bron Ives)
While swans will eat seaweed, they don’t seem to be feeding. Perhaps they are enjoying the sun? But, the Painkalac Creek is also sunny. Swans can drink sea water and perhaps the water quality is better in the sea than that in the blocked creek. Perhaps sea water is good for their feathers? Perhaps something has scared them from the creek? Don’t know.
Maybe not the improbability of a true Black Swan event, but it is always surprising to see those long black necks bobbing up and down with the swell.
James Orton