By Hannah Kennelly
The romantic history of Kevin the black swan resembles a Shakespearean tragedy.
He lost his first mate to a dog attack in 2020 and his second mate Mabel to another off-leash mauling last July.
Kevin leads his new partner Whitney as they forage for eel grass in Edwards Lake.Credit: Justin McManus
Then the unlucky swan’s third partner, Evie, perished from a fishhook injury six months later, leaving Kevin alone at Christmas.
But in news that has delighted the Reservoir community, Edwardes Lake Park’s three-time widower bird has found love again.
He was spotted with his new nesting mate Whitney three days before Valentine’s Day.
Black swans are typically monogamous and mate for life; however, Kevin appears undeterred in his quest for forever love.
Kevin and Whitney were first spotted together on February 11.Credit: Friends of Edwardes Lake group
“I think everyone in the community has a bit of trauma from all the bad news surrounding Kevin and his past mates,” said Kate Jost, a wildlife rescuer and president of the environmental volunteer group Friends of Edwardes Lake.
“A female swan flew into the lake a few weeks ago and Kevin immediately checked her out because he’s quite territorial. They spent a lot of time together and then participated in an activity that’s sure to result in cygnets, so she’s definitely his new partner.”
The Friends of Edwardes Lake posted on Facebook earlier this week, inviting the community to name Kevin’s new mate. The post had 74 comments but the opportunity to pair Kevin with his movie star counterpart was too good to pass.
“Whitney [Houston] and Kevin from The Bodyguard,” one Facebook user commented. “She’s going to need all the protection she can get.”
Jost is thrilled to see the smitten lovebirds but wants the public to make sure they obey the rules designed to protect local wildlife.
Last year, the wildlife rescuer submitted a Change.org petition with more than 2500 signatures to Darebin Council asking for more enforcement of the park’s on-leash area.
She was one of many community members who called for harsher consequences for dog owners that breach the parkland’s leash rules.
“After Kevin’s second mate died, we especially wanted to see change,” Jost said. “Council’s local laws team have been really helpful over the past six months, and we’ve seen increased signage around the area.”
Swans Kevin and Mabel before Mabel’s death. Mabel arrived in November 2020 after the death of Kevin’s first mate.Credit: Friends of Edwardes Lake
A spokeswoman said the Darebin Council was thrilled to hear about Kevin’s new love and wished them both “a happy and healthy life together”.
“After the sad and untimely death of Kevin’s former mate, Mabel, we are continuing to work with the Friends of Edwardes Lake to improve enforcement measures and signage in the area to help ensure the safety and well-being of the wildlife.
“Last year, Darebin installed additional signs about keeping dogs on lead at the park and replaced signs which had been vandalised. We also increased communications about the importance of adhering to these rules and about responsible dog ownership.”
The spokeswoman said patrols of the area had also been increased to “impose penalties for owners with off-leash dogs”.
Mabel with a clutch of cygnets at the Reservoir lake she shared with Kevin before her death.Credit: Friends of Edwardes Lake Park
Jost did not want to vilify pet owners, but said it was often difficult for domestic animals and wildlife to navigate a shared space.
“Wildlife in urban environments often only have slivers of habitat left, so when we enter those spaces we need to be respectful and always obey wildlife signage and warnings,” she said.
“Your dog might have the loveliest nature, but that dog will appear as an intruder and a threat to any native animal.”
She also called for more education campaigns for pet owners around wildlife safety.
“I think there would be more pet owners who would change their behaviour if they had a greater understanding of the consequences their pet might have on the ecosystem.”