Syracuse.com - Syracuse man photographs Australian black swan near Batavia

[HuntingNY-News]

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These birds are native to Australia and is only seen in the wild in North America as an escapee from a zoological establishment or a private aviary.

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<img src="http://media.syracuse.com/outdoors/photo/11886516-large.jpg" class="adv-photo" alt="Black swan 1.JPG" height="285" width="380">

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<span class="byline">Submitted photo</span>

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<strong>Paul Pflanz, of Syacuse sent me this picture and the following note:</strong>

<p>"Here's a strange one for you! An Australian Black Swan seen Sunday, 11/11, about 4 p.m. in Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge north west of Batavia, NY.</p>

<p>"It was seen from the parking / observation area of Cayuga Pond along the north side of rt 77. It is called an Australian black swan as it is native to Australia and is only seen in North America as an escapee on the lamb from a zoological establishment or a private aviary. </p>

<p>"It has the black feathers, red beak with white on the tip characteristic of the breed. Swans in the northern hemisphere have white feathers and orange or black beaks. Swans in the southern hemisphere have some black feathers ranging from black wing tips and edges through completely black head and long necks to this example of completely black feathers all over. <br /> <br />"The refuge was a busy place Sunday as we saw at the same Cayuga pond: three mature bald eagles, several great Herons, some hooded mergansers, eight of the large trumpeter swans, and assorted ducks."<br /></p>

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog