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How are black swans at Albert Park affected by the Australian Grand Prix?

By On May 13, 2015 · Leave a Comment

We recently conducted a study investigating potential effects of the annual Formula 1 Grand Prix motorsport event held at Albert Park on the black swan population.  By comparing population numbers, behaviours and stress levels in black swans before, during and after the event, we found that although the birds do not leave the park or show obvious evidence of changes in behaviour, their stress levels are elevated during the event.  This is of potential concern because similar stress differences in bird populations elsewhere are associated with reduced lifespan or breeding success.  See here for a report on this study in The Age.

PAYNE, C.J., JESSOP, T.S., GUAY, P-J., JOHNSTONE, M., FEORE, M. & MULDER, R.A., (2012). Population, Behavioural and Physiological Responses of an Urban Population of Black Swans to an Intense Annual Noise Event. PLoS ONE 7(9): e45014. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0045014

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Did you know?

An adult male swan is called a cob (from Middle English cobbe (leader of a group). An adult female swan is called a pen, and baby swans are called cygnets (from the Latin word cygnus ("swan") and the Old French suffix -et ("little").
2015-05-11T02:20:03+00:00
An adult male swan is called a cob (from Middle English cobbe (leader of a group). An adult female swan is called a pen, and baby swans are called cygnets (from the Latin word cygnus ("swan") and the Old French suffix -et ("little").

The Black Swan is protected under the Australian National Parks and Wildlife Act, 1974. It is evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
2015-05-11T02:23:39+00:00
The Black Swan is protected under the Australian National Parks and Wildlife Act, 1974. It is evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

A colony of Black Swans in Dawlish, Devon has become so well associated with the town that the bird has been the town's emblem for
2015-05-11T02:23:29+00:00
A colony of Black Swans in Dawlish, Devon has become so well associated with the town that the bird has been the town's emblem for

The current global population of black swans is estimated to be up to 500,000 individuals.
2015-05-11T02:23:19+00:00
The current global population of black swans is estimated to be up to 500,000 individuals.

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2015-05-11T02:23:10+00:00
Black swans occur over large parts of Australia, with estimates of their range varying from 1 to 10 million square kilometers.