Black swans don't always mate for life

@JudyEv (359925)

Rockingham, Australia

June 6, 2024 9:10pm CST

Some boffins (experts) have been studying the black swans at Melbourne’s Albert Park. Over the past two decades, between 1,500 and 2,000 swans have been tagged with hi-tach tracker collars. Unique number and letter sequences allow monitoring from a distance. The public can also identify swans that have been injured or need help, or simply turn up somewhere where they are not usually seen. Swans supposedly are monogamous and mate for life. The study has confirmed that one pair has remained together for 18 years. However, there have also been a number of ‘divorces’. The researchers found that about 10% of swan pairs don’t last. There was even some cheating with chicks being born to a male outside of the pair bond. Some pairs spent time away from each other each year, reuniting at breeding season. Maybe swans are more like humans than once thought!

18 people like this

17 responses

Anne Marie Guyer

@LeaPea2417 (38160)

• Toccoa, Georgia

7 Jun 24

Oh my, how interesting.

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Anne Marie Guyer

@LeaPea2417 (38160)

• Toccoa, Georgia

8 Jun 24

@JudyEv it is certainly amazing.

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@JudyEv (359925)

• Rockingham, Australia

8 Jun 24

I like reading about the natural world. We still have so much to learn about it.

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Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (318809)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

7 Jun 24

Interesting info regarding the black swan. I always thought they mated for life too. Even the avian world cheats.

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Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (318809)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

7 Jun 24

@JudyEv Yes, funny. They are more like humans than we realize.

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@JudyEv (359925)

• Rockingham, Australia

7 Jun 24

And funny how they sometimes need a break from each other.

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@GardenGerty (165177)

• United States

8 Jun 24

And we boffins think we know it all.

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@JudyEv (359925)

• Rockingham, Australia

8 Jun 24

We don't know the half of it, do we?

@kareng (78449)

• United States

7 Jun 24

That is interesting indeed!

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@kareng (78449)

• United States

8 Jun 24

@JudyEv Separate holidays would give them "double" breaks

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@JudyEv (359925)

• Rockingham, Australia

7 Jun 24

I thought it interesting that they take breaks from each other. I wonder if the pair that have been together for 18 years have separate holidays.

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@psanasangma (7895)

• India

7 Jun 24

This is interesting I read about wolves also it seems they are also like human being Cheating exist everywhere I guess!

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@JudyEv (359925)

• Rockingham, Australia

7 Jun 24

Yes there are always some who are not honest.

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@psanasangma (7895)

• India

8 Jun 24

@JudyEv They are too interesting !!

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@Deepizzaguy (112620)

• Lake Charles, Louisiana

7 Jun 24

You have a good point that swans have more in common with humans than they know of.

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@JudyEv (359925)

• Rockingham, Australia

7 Jun 24

In some ways, we're not so different.

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@Deepizzaguy (112620)

• Lake Charles, Louisiana

7 Jun 24

@JudyEv That is true.

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@BarBaraPrz (50139)

• St. Catharines, Ontario

7 Jun 24

Interesting...

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@JudyEv (359925)

• Rockingham, Australia

8 Jun 24

Nature is full of all sorts of surprises.

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@allknowing (150900)

• India

8 Jun 24

Thanks for sharing.

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@JudyEv (359925)

• Rockingham, Australia

8 Jun 24

You're welcome.

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changjiangzhibin89

@changjiangzhibin89 (17001)

• China

7 Jun 24

The study of the black swans sheds new light on their pair bond.

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@JudyEv (359925)

• Rockingham, Australia

7 Jun 24

The researchers started off looking into how climate change was affecting the birds but then changed their focus.

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@wolfgirl569 (120272)

• Marion, Ohio

7 Jun 24

Had never heard they don't always stay together

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@JudyEv (359925)

• Rockingham, Australia

8 Jun 24

That's what they've discovered through the tagging and monitoring.

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@RasmaSandra (87621)

• Daytona Beach, Florida

7 Jun 24

That is interesting sort of like swans imitating human life,

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@JudyEv (359925)

• Rockingham, Australia

8 Jun 24

I find it intriguing that they have breaks from each other. Maybe we should learn from them.

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@TheHorse (229270)

• Walnut Creek, California

7 Jun 24

Mmm, I think our divorce rate is higher than 10 per cent.

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@JudyEv (359925)

• Rockingham, Australia

8 Jun 24

And many don't bother to marry now.

@LindaOHio (196637)

• United States

7 Jun 24

Interesting. Love the picture. Have a good weekend.

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@JudyEv (359925)

• Rockingham, Australia

8 Jun 24

I love seeing black swans with their young.

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@dgobucks226 (36772)

•

7 Jun 24

Ha, ha... Seems even some swans need a break from marital bliss. Giving their mate the "Swan song."

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@JudyEv (359925)

• Rockingham, Australia

8 Jun 24

Something like that I guess.

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@kaylachan (78950)

• Daytona Beach, Florida

7 Jun 24

ANything is possible.

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@JudyEv (359925)

• Rockingham, Australia

7 Jun 24

That's for sure.

@RebeccasFarm (95500)

• Arvada, Colorado

7 Jun 24

Oh that's good to know, didn't know that Judy thanks.

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@JudyEv (359925)

• Rockingham, Australia

7 Jun 24

You're welcome. I hope you're doing well.

@Beestring (15705)

• Hong Kong

7 Jun 24

That is interesting to know.

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@JudyEv (359925)

• Rockingham, Australia

7 Jun 24

Some of the results of the study have surprised the experts.

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