A colony of Swans moves into Bruny Island

When we first moved to Bruny Island, the area around Adventure Bay and Simpsons Bay didn't have swans. Then we noticed 25 years ago the first Swans that we had seen, arriving to Adventure Bay. They arrived first to the Creek at Adventure Bay, and established a colony there. These birds over the years then regularly had Cygnets (young swans).

One day we were on the beach at Adventure Bay – and we noticed that the Swans were out on the Bay itself, with two Cygnets. When the Cygnets were about three quarters grown they then paddled off on their own out across Adventure bay, and then came across to Simpsons Bay. Then we noticed them up here in Simpson’s bay a couple of days later, and they were the first Swans we had seen at Simpsons bay.

Now why they did it I’ve got no idea – they probably got kicked out of home!

And since that time, this colony of Swans at Simpsons Bay has grown – and now you can see sometimes twenty to thirty swans in Simpsons Bay. Improved food and less disturbance for nesting in Simpsons Bay has created an ecology now where they are nesting well and thriving.

Cover Image: Black Swan - Serene - Bruny Island - by Warwick Berry