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Are our black swans getting too close for comfort around Lake Wendouree? It’s something of a perennial question for many Ballarat locals, who love the setting and seeing one of Australia’s signature native birds – but remain somewhat wary of the swans’ behaviour. Several tales suggest they are being as assertive as ever as they seek their next snack. One local reported being chased away after taking their child down to the foreshore to look at the birds. And last week, the Courier’s photographer Kate Healy cut short an evening picnic due to intrusive swans. Her footage taken showed a mob of around a dozen of the birds surrounding her table as she attempted to enjoy hot chips with her partner. They ended up eating in the car. “It’s our fault, it’s not their fault” says Roger Thomas, who writes The Courier’s Nature Notes column. “They [the birds] wouldn’t do this if they had never been fed. On the other hand, families with children delight in close-up encounters with them. It gets young kids interested in birds, and appreciating the Lake’s wildlife. ” When The Courier went to Lake Wendouree yesterday lunchtime, there was one solitary black swan in the picnic area adjoining the adventure playground on Windmill Drive. Almost immediately, a tourist scattered food in its direction, drawing a crowd of seagulls and other birds The official council advice is not to feed water birds “as it can make them sick, develop aggressive behaviour and reduces their capacity to seek their natural food.” There are no obvious signs in that part of the park advising people not to feed the birds, although it is flagged clearly near Pipers Cafe. Several regular lake-side visitors The Courier spoke to said they would feed the birds anyway despite the official advice against it. According to Roger Thomas, the swan’s food sources are sufficient without help from visitors and tourists. “The lake’s swans would survive completely adequately without human-provided food - they don’t need us at all,” he said. “The birds are territorial - it disturbs their established territories if people feed them and others want to come into their territory.” “Whether it’s a problem or not I am not sure. It’s not going to go away. There will always be people who like to give them food.” Black swans are indigenous to Australia and range widely across the country. Their normal habitat is wetland, including river estuaries, bays and great lakes. In some places where the wetlands are permanent - such as Lake Wendouree - the swans stay year-round. There are around 100 black swans currently resident at the lake although numbers do fluctuate from year to year. Back in 1972, there were 524 swans counted at one stage. Reaching an average height of 131cm in adulthood, swans are a protected species. Last winter, Ballarat residents were warned to take care driving round the lake after impatient drivers reportedly injured birds crossing the road.

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