Black Swan in New Jersey (with pics) (1 Viewer)

usman · Mar 4, 2004

So last summer, I went to feed the ducks near my house in New Jersey (USA) and I found a Black Swan.

Here are pictures of it: one and two

I thought it was a goose, but my friend found this picture proving me wrong.

SO MY QUESTION IS, what's a Black Swan doing in New Jersey??? According to the link above, it's only supposed to be in Australia and New Zealand.

peachfront · Mar 4, 2004

They're introduced to Europe apparently but they are also ornamental birds so your Black Swan could be an escapee. A couple years back, there were some reports of Black Swan in Louisiana swamps but I don't think anyone serious saw them and I think the conclusion was that it was a case of hysteria? But since I have encountered folks occasionally who had Black Swan on their ponds as ornamentals, I'm not so sure these people didn't see what they thought they saw.

Michael Frankis · Mar 4, 2004

Hi Usman,

Welcome to BirdForum!

Guess you're answer is in the link photo - it escaped from Sedgwick County Zoo . . . or whatever other zoo is nearest to you. Or at least from someone who keeps them as pets (you'd be surprised what some people like to have!!)

I see them escaped over here (northeast England) from time to time as well

Michael

usman · Mar 5, 2004

peachfront said:
They're introduced to Europe apparently but they are also ornamental birds so your Black Swan could be an escapee. A couple years back, there were some reports of Black Swan in Louisiana swamps but I don't think anyone serious saw them and I think the conclusion was that it was a case of hysteria? But since I have encountered folks occasionally who had Black Swan on their ponds as ornamentals, I'm not so sure these people didn't see what they thought they saw.

Thanks for your reply, I'll look up my local INS.

usman · Mar 5, 2004

Michael Frankis said:
Hi Usman,

Welcome to BirdForum!

Guess you're answer is in the link photo - it escaped from Sedgwick County Zoo . . . or whatever other zoo is nearest to you. Or at least from someone who keeps them as pets (you'd be surprised what some people like to have!!)

I see them escaped over here (northeast England) from time to time as well

Michael

Thanks for your reply. Shouldn't importing non-native species like this be illegal? I recall reading that the mute swan has turned into a huge pest after it was introduced to the United States.

Johnandzenda · Aug 27, 2007

Seaside Heights Black Swan Photos

My wife returned from visiting her parents in Seaside Heights, NJ where this black swan visited their dock. We just got the photos back, enjoy!

usman · Aug 28, 2007

Very nice! I noticed that the black swan I saw was very aggressive, did you get the same impression?

Peewit · Aug 28, 2007

usman said:
Very nice! I noticed that the black swan I saw was very aggressive, did you get the same impression?

I have never seen them being aggressive myself. I wonder if they are? Maybe that they are a success, where they end up.

marcus · Aug 30, 2007

I have seen lots of Black Swan escapees. And I have heard that they are supposed to be pretty mean too, even though I have found Mute Swans more to be like that. In Long Island, where there are very many Mute Swans, I used to be chased away by them. Once I thought I stand and be brave and I got a bad bite on a finger!

gtluke · Apr 1, 2013

Found 3 black swans in Towaco NJ this morning. They definitely look lost.
Sorry for bumping a super old thread, but it came up on google and I already had an account here

Black Swan in New Jersey (with pics) (1 Viewer)

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