This is a fantastic bird we tend to overlook.

I seem to come into contact with this bird many times while kayaking in the Hunter area.

In the past I have found them nesting, sometimes very close to the shore line.

On other occasions I have witnessed disputes between parent birds.

This we have spoken about in past articles, going through my files I have found some striking images of them in flight as well as with their chicks, so I will include those images today, one in the paper the rest can be found online.

More from Jim: Mallee fowl, a great housekeeper

Black swans are ready to breed at 18 months and most breed before the end of three years.

Young birds about to breed for the first time may form a pair, only temporarily.

They sometimes may leave their partner to raise the chicks while starting a different brood with another partner.

Later in life they tend to stay together.

Each year between September and February black swans moult becoming flightless and may be seen in thousands in lakes and estuaries together.

Related: Gannets, the enemy of small fish

In one recent experience, I was watching a pair on the nest.

The chicks were just hatching, one was still on the nest and a raven was attacking, trying to get one of the chicks.

It clearly shows the parents guarding and protecting the chicks.

This raven was unsuccessful on this occasion.

To see more images from my birdwatching adventures, visit the Maitland Mercury's website.