Black swans at York University
Photograph by Alison McGilp
York University has the second highest number of ducks at a British university, only exceeded by Loughborough. Its man-made lake hosts a range of wildfowl, including Canada geese, coots, and black swans. These last are smaller than the native white swan, and are characterized by black feathers and red beaks. They were introduced to the university 3 years ago from the Wildfowl Trust, and in order to keep them on the lake, it is necessary to clip their wings. They don't fall under the Queen's protection, as they are not native to Britain; they originated in New Zealand and are now common in Australia. In their native environment, they eat underwater vegetation but the lake at York does not have this, so they are forced to graze. This is not ideal because the black swan is not designed for life on land; its body is heavy, and puts a strain on the legs.
Black swans are unique among swans in that both male and female incubate the eggs. The male usually sits on the eggs during the day, and the female takes the night shift. At present there is only the one breeding pair at York, with a brood of four cygnets. They have been very successful: this is the second brood in a single year, but the size of the lake only provides room for two couples at a time.
With thanks to Barry Thomas, Chemistry Department, York University
Rose McGilp
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