Story: Wetland birds

Black swans on Lake Ellesmere

Black swans on Lake Ellesmere

Lake Ellesmere (Te Waihora), a large coastal lake in Canterbury, had a population of 70,000 black swans until a severe storm in 1968 destroyed the lake-floor vegetation they depended on. It still supports many birds – as well as the swans in the foreground of this view, there is a continuous line of swans and other waterfowl in the middle distance, parallel to the far shore. In the background are the snow-covered Southern Alps.

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Photograph by Christina Troup

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How to cite this page:

Christina Troup, 'Wetland birds - Black swans', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/14625/black-swans-on-lake-ellesmere (accessed 28 March 2024)

Story by Christina Troup, published 24 Sep 2007, reviewed & revised 17 Feb 2015