Black swan spotted

While driving along Fisherman Bay road on Lopez last Wednesday afternoon, Janna Nichols spotted a large Black Swan (Cygnus atratu), a native of Australia, across from Islands’ Marine Center at the base of the boat ramp.

The bird was not upset by her presence, says Nichols, who speculates that the bird is possibly an escaped pet from a private aviary or zoo.

Black Swans have mostly black feathers, with a line of white feathers on the wing edges that sometimes show when at rest, but are unnoticeable in flight. The bill is bright red, with a pale bar and tip; the legs and feet are greyish-black.

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