ianmichaelthomas
ATTACK!!!!
Regular visitors to my photostream will know that I have a fascination with the population of wild and free Australian black swans at La Trobe Uni.
This swan is an enraged parent - launching an attack on a couple of much smaller waterbirds, whose only crime was to go too close to the two baby swans, just out of picture.
It was stunningly quick - over in seconds, but he got his point across!
La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
The Black Swan (Cygnus atratus) is a large waterbird, which breeds mainly in the southeast and southwest regions of Australia.
Black Swans are mostly black-feathered birds, with a line of white flight feathers of the wing edges that sometimes show when at rest, and are conspicuous in flight. The bill is bright red, with a pale bar and tip; and legs and feet are greyish-black. Cobs (males) are slightly larger than pens (females), with a longer and straighter bill. Cygnets (immature birds) are a greyish-brown with pale-edged feathers
A mature Black Swan measures between 110 and 142 cm (43-56 in) in length and weighs 3.7-9 kg (8.1-20 lbs). Its wing span is between 1.6 and 2 metres (5.3-6.5 ft. The neck is long (relatively the longest neck among the swans) and curved in an "S".
The Black Swan utters a musical and far reaching bugle-like sound, called either on the water or in flight, as well as a range of softer crooning notes. It can also whistle, especially when disturbed while breeding and nesting.
ATTACK!!!!
Regular visitors to my photostream will know that I have a fascination with the population of wild and free Australian black swans at La Trobe Uni.
This swan is an enraged parent - launching an attack on a couple of much smaller waterbirds, whose only crime was to go too close to the two baby swans, just out of picture.
It was stunningly quick - over in seconds, but he got his point across!
La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
The Black Swan (Cygnus atratus) is a large waterbird, which breeds mainly in the southeast and southwest regions of Australia.
Black Swans are mostly black-feathered birds, with a line of white flight feathers of the wing edges that sometimes show when at rest, and are conspicuous in flight. The bill is bright red, with a pale bar and tip; and legs and feet are greyish-black. Cobs (males) are slightly larger than pens (females), with a longer and straighter bill. Cygnets (immature birds) are a greyish-brown with pale-edged feathers
A mature Black Swan measures between 110 and 142 cm (43-56 in) in length and weighs 3.7-9 kg (8.1-20 lbs). Its wing span is between 1.6 and 2 metres (5.3-6.5 ft. The neck is long (relatively the longest neck among the swans) and curved in an "S".
The Black Swan utters a musical and far reaching bugle-like sound, called either on the water or in flight, as well as a range of softer crooning notes. It can also whistle, especially when disturbed while breeding and nesting.