By Jamie Furness and Guy Hazlewood
The new Swan Protection Group has held its first meeting in Forest Lake to help protect the black swans and their offspring, whose struggle for survival has captured the concern of the Forest Lake community.
Forest Lake’s iconic black swan pair have lost nearly every cygnet in the last decade due to human intervention and predators such as eels in the lake and wandering outdoor cats.
Member for Inala Margie Nightingale is playing a key role in coordinating the Swan Protection Group, composed of citizens and animal experts.
“There are multiple potential predators, from eels to foxes and birds of prey,” she said.
“We’ve started a citizen science group to collect data and collaborate with experts to better understand the causes and find ways to support the swan population.”
Close-up of three cygnets at Forest Lake. Photo taken in June 2024 by Forest Lake local Anne Reardon.
The black swan population has seen a steady decline over the last decade, with only one cygnet surviving to adulthood.
Last year, the third adult black swan residing at the lake had to be euthanised by the RSPCA after its neck became severely strangled by irresponsibly dumped fishing gear.
In early June, a group of children was allegedly seen attempting to steal one of the cygnets before it was returned to the lake by concerned locals.
Residents have been taking it upon themselves to reverse this trend by regularly spreading awareness on social media about swan protection, including not feeding them and reporting any suspicious activity.
The last surviving cygnet from 2023 with one of its parents on September 2, one day before it was collected by the RSPCA and euthanised. The swan’s injured leg can be seen resting on its back. Photo by Daniel Furness.
Margie emphasised the importance of community involvement, noting that the group had held its first meeting and is exploring options such as tagging swans, installing trail cameras, and increasing awareness.
“It’s about empowering the community to take action,” she said.
The group’s next meeting is scheduled for 5:30 pm on September 27 at the Forest Lake Tavern.
For more information, contact Margie Nightingale at inala@parliament.qld.gov.au.
