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Information by Jessica from Year 5P
at Rochedale State School.
INTRODUCTION
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The Black Swan is the only swan
native to Australia. They were discovered by Willem de Vlamingh, a sailor in 1697. They are West Australia's fauna emblem. Black swans are the
second heaviest flying bird in the world. |
HABITAT AND FEEDING
| Swans nest in colonies and the nest
is built around the eggs. The nest is a small circle of vegetation around a large circle
of reeds. They lay 3 to 9 bluish-green eggs.
Swans are seen in pairs or small family parties. They eat grass, aquatic plants and
insects. |
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DESCRIPTION
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The Black swan is 1.3 metres long
with a long arched neck, a red bill (with a white bar near the tip). Its legs are dark grey and it has webbed feet. Black swans
weigh less than 12kg and have wings each nearly 60cm long. Their feathers are
water-proofed by oil produced by glands in the skin, keeping its body dry. |
CONCLUSION
| Black swans are not migratory but
move from one feeding ground to another at dusk or on a moonlit night. Baby swans are
called cygnets and the scientific name is "cygnus atratun". A Black swan builds up speed on the ground before taking
off. It can fly for hours at a steady speed of 50km per hour. |
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Click here for some questions about the Black Swan. |
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