Black swans hatch cygnets in Guanshanhu Park

A pair of black swans inhabiting Guanshanhu Park in Guanshanhu district of Guiyang, the capital of Southwest China's Guizhou province, naturally birthed four cygnets recently, attracting many tourists to come and take photos of the budding family amid the reeds.

A black swan couple keeps a protective eye over their newborn cygnets. [Photo/Guiyang news network]

Liao Chengjuan is the administrator of the black swans at Guanshan Lake Park. She comes to check on them almost every day and is very familiar with the situation of the black swan family.

"This time the female swan laid six eggs. The shell-breaking day for the first cygnet was on May 2. The remaining two eggs are expected to hatch in the next two days," she said.

Black swans are monogamous. It usually takes 37 to 42 days for a brood to hatch, and the black swan couple takes turns looking after them.

Four furry cygnets wait for their breakfast at Guanshanhu Park. [Photo/Guiyang news network]

Before the female swan laid her eggs, the administrators and breeders provided the couple with straw, branches and leaves so they could build comfortable nests. After the eggs were laid, a cordon was set up around the black swan hatchery, and the nesting place was rainproofed for their protection.

In terms of feeding the couple, calcium tablets and vitamin C were added to their diet to help boost the incubation conditions for the young cygnets.

Locals and tourists are gently reminded not to feed, touch or make noise when watching the swans so as not to inadvertently harm their health or frighten them off.