Australian Black Swans Gunther a

	Kimie and I purchased Gunther and Grace on December 22 of 2008. They are a mated pair of Australian Black Swans, and Gunther is quite fond of his Lady Grace.
Gunther	Grace
Grace	Gunther
Gunther	Gunther
	January, 2009
	UPDATE: In Mid-January we moved Gracie and Gunther into the Indigo Room in the Aviary. They are housed with the Peacocks, the Ring Neck Pheasants, and the Polish and Aracauna chickens. So far they appear to be getting along quite nicely.

UPDATE: On February 2, 2009, It appeared that the Swans were beginning to build a nest. The following day I found an egg the size of a grapefruit, and two days later I found a second egg. I placed a pile of hay as close to the nest as they would allow, and they immediately went to work, adding it to what had been previously constructed. Both Gunther and Gracie have become aggressive parents, so I now use caution when entering the Aviary.
	Gracie February 2, 2009
	From the time of mating Gunther has played a major part in parenting, from the building of the nest, to guarding and sitting on the eggs. In the photo to the left, it is Gunther who is protecting the eggs. He has a blue leg band- Gracie's is pink.

Building the Nest



	On Feb.13th I added some fresh pines and they immediately placed them on their nest.

UPDATE: As of February 7, 2009, Gracie has laid 4 eggs. The most recent is much smaller than the first. They began sitting on the eggs on Wednesday evening. Yesterday, and again this morning, I noticed that it was Gunther who was sitting in the nest. We weren't sure if they had mated, but I believe there is a good possibility since they have both become broody.

Now that the nest is complete, Gunther and Gracie have become more relaxed, and not as aggressive. But I am sure that that will change again if the eggs are fertile and the babies hatch.

UPDATE: As of February 14, 2009, Gracie has laid 7 eggs.

October 2009

OCTOBER 2009 UPDATE: As it turned out, Gunther and Gracie's eggs were not fertile. In May we built a separate area for them that we call the Swan Suite. There, they have a small pond in which to breed.

Gracie mourned for weeks after taking her from her eggs. Hopefully, she and Gunther will be successful this coming season in breeding and producing offspring.

The photo to the left: Gracie and Gunther enjoying a swim in their little pond.

More about Black Swans

Female Swans are called Pens
Males are called Cobs.
Babies are called Cygnets.
Swans can live up to 40 years in captivity.

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