If you’ve had a watchful eye you may have noticed some new additions to the swan enclosure at Bernard Park.
Two baby cygnet have been glued to their mother’s side since their birth.
The birth of the duo serves as a reminder to the public to not feed birds in and around the Avon River.
In February this year the Shire of Northam took to social media to warn residents about the misconceptions surrounding feeding ducks and swans.
They warned of ‘angel wing’ a defect caused to bird when they have a high protein or high carbohydrate based died leading their winds to twist outward and losing the ability to fly.
The Shire outlined a list of foods that are suitable to feed the swans.
The list included foods such as shredded lettuce, silver beat, corn off the cob or canned, peas, grated carrot and chopped broccoli.
They warned that bread, especially that with mould on it can kill the swans.
Baked goods and grains of any kind were also included on the list of bad foods.
“It's taken a while since the redevelopment of the swan enclosure, but lately our beautiful swans have been spending more and more time in the town pool area outside the Visitor Centre,” the Shire said.
“Our swans do get their required amount of food, and we don't actively advise touching or feeding them.”
The white swan was introduced to the areas duirng the early 1900s by Russian settler Mayor Oscar Bernard.
Upon introduction to Australia, Northam was the only place where the swans survived.
Today Northam is the only place in the country where swans breed naturally in the wild.
