Animal behaviour — David Taylor - Master Jeweller

25th August 2026

I have been spending a lot of time with a growing family of Black Swans. I have done this previously many years ago and forgot how much I enjoy it.

My overnight accomodation by a Billabong.

For the past month I have been heading out to Chillagoe once a week for work. Rather than take the long route through Mareeba to Chillagoe I go via Atherton, Herberton, Irvinebank and Petford.

I have always had this spot all to myself.

I have been camping at a favourite spot overnight if I make it away late either coming or going. I do not like riding in the bush at night so I pitch my tent and make the final journey in the morning. It is a great spot right on the edge of a billabong.

Ever since I have been visiting, there have been Black Swans in residence. A week ago I noticed the female on the nest. I figured it would not be long before cygnets were added to the family.

Swans usually lay 4 to 6 eggs. Cygnets one week old.

The next week when I returned there were 6 cygnets right in front of my campsite. Black Swans usually lay 4 to 6 eggs. Once they hatch the cygnets spend just one day on the nest and then they are on the water or walking on land.

Teaching it’s young to feed. Cygnets 3 weeks old.

The adult birds stirs up the vegetation to bring it to the surface so that the cygnets can feed.

As soon as the cygnets notice that the parents have stirred some food to the surface they gather around to feed. Generally it is the female bird that stirs the vegetation up for the cygnets whilst the male bird stands watch and feeds itself.

All lined up. So cute. Cygnets 3 weeks old.

I can watch these bird feeding for hours and I often do. That is a good thing because they seem to be feeding most of the time.

Speaking of eating

When it comes to feeding myself, the beauty of the overnight trip as compared to longer ones, is that I can carry frozen meat for a meal and cook it that night. It is a welcome change to tin meat added to precooked rice dishes.

The smell of the food brings some new friends to my campsite every visit. I believe Australian Ravens remember human faces and I seem to have made some friends that have very little regard for personal space.

The stars have not been in full view on these trips before I sleep but I will get a better photo one day of the Milky Way right in the gap in the trees over the billabong. My nights there are spent by the fire either reading a book or listening to a podcast.

Other birds

A bird that I have not seen at this location until recently is the Azure Kingfisher. This one was diving onto the water for food from a tree about 40 feet from my tent. I have seen it multiple times now and it appears to be very comfortable around me.

Azure Kingfisher, Barron Gorge, November 2021.

These stunning birds are no more than the size of an adult human hand. They also only have 3 toes, two facing forwards and one backwards.

Left to right: Male and female Australian Wood Ducks.

Australian Wood Ducks were in abundance when the cygnets hatched but on my last trip they seem to have moved on. They appeared to be camera shy and kept their distance.

Little Pied Cormorant flying past the Swans nest.

I am guessing by the presence of this Little Pied Cormorant that there is also fish in that water. Maybe I might throw a line in one day and see what I can catch. Given the amount of contaminated water from mining in the area I doubt I would eat any fish I caught.

After a nap

When it comes time for a rest the swans make their way to the edge of the billabong. They never return to the nest which is a bit further away from the edge of the water.

The ever watching male bird in the background.

The male bird in this family usually goes a bit further back from the edge of the water whilst the others rest. At the first sign of the need to move the male bird calls out and the family is on the water again.

When another bird or anything else gets too close to the family the male will run them off. Often you will hear the sound of those big wings flapping as the male lets something know it is too close.

Other visitors

A Wallaby off in the distance feeding on the water vegetation.

A lot of wallabies and kangaroos make their way to the billabong. Over the years I have seen cattle enter the water to feed on the vegetation but this is the first time I have seen wallabies and kangaroos do so.

During the night feral pigs also make their way to the water. On one night they woke me as they pushed into my tent seeing if I was a meal I suppose.

Further visits

The Swans starting to relax and swim towards me more often. Cygnets 3 weeks old.

After 4 weeks of spending time with these swans I now know where to position myself and at what time of the day for the best photos. Sadly my work at Chillagoe is finished so it might be a little while before I can head back.

Feeding right in front of me. Cygnets 2 weeks old.

It will be interesting to see how much they have grown the next time I visit this campsite. I cannot wait.