Black swans don't always mate for life

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Some boffins (experts) have been studying the black swans at Melbourne’s Albert Park. Over the past two decades, between 1,500 and 2,000 swans have been tagged with hi-tach tracker collars. Unique number and letter sequences allow monitoring from a distance. The public can also identify swans that have been injured or need help, or simply turn up somewhere where they are not usually seen. Swans supposedly are monogamous and mate for life. The study has confirmed that one pair has remained together for 18 years. However, there have also been a number of ‘divorces’. The researchers found that about 10% of swan pairs don’t last. There was even some cheating with chicks being born to a male outside of the pair bond. Some pairs spent time away from each other each year, reuniting at breeding season. Maybe swans are more like humans than once thought!