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Story: Wetland birds

Black swans on Lake Ellesmere

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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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Private collection

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, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/14625/black-swans-on-lake-ellesmere (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Christina Troup, published 1 March 2009.

Comments

Kay
12 December 2011
I have just seen a black swan in the mouth of the Wade River (Wade Heads). I have known this area for over x10 years and this is the first time I have seen a black swan here. Looks rather lonely by itself!
John Lammiman
24 May 2011
dear john