Graceful, elegant, and noble—these are the hallmarks of black swans, also known as mourning swans. Until now, it was not known that they are also masters of procrastination. After an intense incubation period—including an extension of 12 days beyond the originally calculated due date—the Herberstein pair, Cassandra and Odin, have welcomed new arrivals. In addition to the first cygnet, born shortly after midnight, two more black swan cygnets followed in the early morning hours. The cygnets are in their straw nest and are being kept warm by Mom Swan, as are the two remaining eggs.

For now, the young family will remain in their winter quarters. Over the next 2 to 3 weeks, depending on weather conditions and temperature trends, a return to the Australia enclosure is planned. There, during the summer months, they live alongside emus and Bennett’s wallabies.

The chicks’ plumage is gray at birth. A feather from the first chick to hatch will soon be sent to the lab for DNA analysis to determine its sex. A naming contest is already underway on the Ö3 Facebook page. They’re looking for a gender-neutral name. Listeners can then vote on the Ö3 website, https://oe3.orf.at, for the name of the first chick from among the most frequently suggested names.