16/09/2025
SWAN FAMILY RELOCATION
Today the family of swans - mum, dad and four cygnets - were relocated to Blackford Pond by the SSPCA. Our committee member Lucy observed them there for a while this afternoon - see her lovely video clip below. They seemed calm and content.
A big shout out and thank you to all our members and supporters - including children from Victoria Primary - who've fed and watered the swans in recent weeks to help sustain them during the prolonged dry spell. You're all heroes!
Though we're pleased to see them settle in a pond with plenty of water surface for the cygnets to strengthen their wings, we were disappointed not to have been notified in advance of when the move would take place, as we'd asked for in our communications with the SSPCA case officer.
We also have some concerns around their vulnerability to dogs and foxes, given they're used to being behind a fence. We hope to continue our dialogue with the SSPCA on this and other aspects of their welfare, and hope to be kept informed. Who knows whether some or all of them may return in future, once the turning of the season has brought more rain.
No doubt the landowner and prospective developer are revelling in seeing the water level so low and the swans relocated. In fact, we have reason to believe they have been pushing the SSPCA to execute the relocation sooner rather than later (while we were advocating for a 'wait and see' approach this week).
They're hoping the situation created by this summer's exceptionally hot and dry weather will prove that the plots are nothing more than land for development.
However, far from playing into the hands of the landowner and developer, we believe that recent events have served to strengthen the case for retaining all of the Western Harbour Ponds area as a valuable, much-loved greenspace for people and nature.
The way in which supporters, schoolchildren and locals rallied to support the swans shows how strong the sense of connection is with this place and its wildlife. It demonstrates just how valuable urban pockets of self-willed land such as this can be in connecting and engaging people with nature on their doorstep. In making people TALK and CARE about climate and biodiversity.
With a touch of careful habitat management, this place can and should continue to thrive as an urban oasis for nature, for people and for climate. That remains our vision.
