Meet the Famous Lake Eola Swans
Everyone who knows Lake Eola knows the beautiful swans that call it home. After being transferred from Lake Lucerne in 1922, they have become a loved part of the community. There are five species of swans that live around the lake and are cared for by swan veterinarians annually.
The swans have access to supplemental food through feeders in the lake and on the shore. They can also be fed lettuce, spinach, and duck pellet food found in the parks. Any other foods could be detrimental to their health, ultimately making the swans ill.
(Cygnus Cygnus) Whooper Swans are the National Bird of Finland and can be found wintering in Great Britain, of Northern Europe, and Asia Minor. The yellow coloring extends past their nostrils which helps identify them from the Bewick swans (a type of Tundra Swan). Most swans usually mate for life, but the Whooper Swans have a 6% divorce rate.
(Cygnus melancocoryphus) Black Neck Swans are native to South America. Southern hemisphere swans have black coloring while Northern hemisphere swans are white in color. The pink feet of Black Neck swans are set further back making it very awkward for them to walk on land. Therefore these swans stay primarily in the water.
(Cygnus atratus) is a large water bird, a species of swan, which breeds mainly in the southeast and southwest regions of Australia. The species was hunted to extinction in New Zealand, but later reintroduced. Within Australia they are nomadic, with erratic migration patterns dependent upon climatic conditions. Black Swans are large birds with mostly black plumage and red bills. They are monogamous breeders that share incubation duties and cygnet rearing between the sexes.
(Cygnus olor) is a species of swan, and thus a member of the duck, goose and swan family Anatidae. It is native to much of Europe and Asia, and (as a rare winter visitor) the far north of Africa. It is also an introduced species in North America, Australasia and southern Africa. The name ‘mute’ derives from it being less vocal than other swan species Measuring 125 to 170 centimeters (49 to 67 in) in length, this large swan is wholly white in plumage with an orange bill bordered with black. It is recognizable by its pronounced knob atop the bill.
(Cygnus buccinator) Trumpeter Swans are indigenous to North America and are the largest Swan Species. A unique characteristic is their number of feathers – 25,000. This is the most feathers of any bird species. They are identified by their coal black beaks.