Jacob and Penny started building a nest in early July 2019.
8th July 2019: Original nest under construction on right side of pier.
10th July 2019: Shortly after building the original nest, Jacob and Penny had a change of heart and relocated the nest to the other side of the pier, some 10 metres away, being a more sheltered location. Their first egg appears!
11th July 2019: Jacob and Penny are making improvements to the nest.
12th July 2019: Heavy rains with a high tide. The nest is soaked but holds togrther.
13th July 2019: Jacob and Penny have done reinforcing of the nest and added a layer of eucalyptus leaves. The tide appears to be still rising.
14th July 2019: Jacob and Penny continue to bolster the nest. A second egg arrives.
16th July 2019: Weather has improved and tide is abating.
18th July 2019: Sadly an egg is missing. It was an egg laid about a week ago.
19th July 2019: Jacob and Penny always glad to see their human family. A new egg today! Back to three eggs.
20th July 2019: Weather is nice and the couple are very talkative today.
22nd July 2019: The weather has improved and the couple decide to reinforce the nest.
23rd July 2019: Great news a fourth egg arrives!
26th July 2019: Jacob and Penny very organised at their nest, once they see us bringing some vegetables for dinner they are off the nest and run toward us. Jacob and Penny have it in turns sitting on the nest and they alternate rummaging for food. Bringing them some vegetables helps their diet.
29th July 2019: Penny and Jacob have been incubating the eggs for 13 days, only 29 days to go!
31st July 2019: Jacob and Penny have been alternating in a strict routine sitting on the nest.
2nd August 2019: Windy day at the nest but the couple are making the most of it. Jacob and Penny sit on the nest in regular turns. Incubation period has been 17 days, 25 days to go.
3rd August 2019: Jacob and Penny.
6th August 2019: Beautiful day at Paynesville. Jacob and Penny at the nest.
6th August 2019: Beautiful day at Paynesville. Jacob and Penny at the nest.
8th August 2019: Our favourite black swans have been very conscientious and on a strict rotation system. When we arrived Jacob was asleep on the nest but woke up for an afternoon snack of corn. Incubation has been about 23 days, past half-way, with 19 days to go.
10th August 2019:
12th August 2019:
14th August 2019: Beautiful sunny day with the couple diligently protecting the nest. They also did a change over of the nest while we were present.
17th August 2019: Good to see Jacob and Penny. Jacob attending to nesting duties while Penny staying nearby.
19th August 2019: A freezing cold and windy day making it very unpleasant, but our couple were intently attending the nest. Penny on the nest and Jacob by her side.
19th August 2019: A freezing cold and windy day making it very unpleasant, but our couple were intently attending the nest. Penny on the nest and Jacob by her side.
21st August 2019: We had a surprise today, an additional egg was found in the nest. Now five eggs! Tide has risen and with a spate of cold, wet and windy weather it shows how masterful the couple are from an architectural and engineering viewpoint in choosing a location and building a nest. The nest withstands quite a battering. We estimate eggs will start hatching in about seven days.
22nd August 2019: The nest has been taking a pounding with a high tide and strong waves. Fortunately the couple’s engineering skills are very good! Noticed Penny was doing some rehabilitation of the nest.
23rd August 2018: A fine day today. The lake water has receded and the couple has added some new foliage to the nest.
24th August 2019: A beautiful day today. Penny is on the nest with Jacob staying close by. A number of groups visited the couple; it is good to see so much interest in them and the imminent cygnets.
25th August 2019: Very exciting day today. Penny has three of her cygnets hatched! The couple are delighted. It is important we give Penny space to bond with her cygnets.
Penny on the nest. Three cygnets hatched today! 
Penny on the nest. Three cygnets hatched today! 
Penny on the nest. Three cygnets hatched today! 
Penny on the nest. 
Penny on the nest. 
Jacob.
26th August 2019: It was delightful to find a fourth egg hatched today, so now four cygnets! Only one egg to go. Penny is a very proud mother caring for her babies.
Penny and her four beautiful cygnets. 
Penny and her four beautiful cygnets. 
Four beautiful cygnets. 
Penny and her four beautiful cygnets. 
Jacob near Penny and their cygnets.
27th August 2019: The third day and the four cygnets are growing and wading in the drinking bowl! Penny still has one egg to hatch, this is understandable as the egg arrived very late in the period.
28th August 2019: The fourth day and the new cygnets: Cobie, Siggy, Seth and Janessa are already swimming with mum and dad.
Penny followed in a straight line by her four cygnets: Cobie, Siggy, Seth and Janessa. 
Penny followed by her four cygnets: Cobie, Siggy, Seth and Janessa. 
Jacob and Penny’s four-day old cygnets: Cobie, Siggy, Seth and Janessa. 
The four cygnets under mum’s protection.
29th August 2019: The fifth day and the new cygnets are hanging around with mum and dad at the nest. Please give us some name suggestions for the four new cygnets.
30th August 2019: The sixth day and Jacob and Penny are continuing to bond with their beautiful cygnets.
31st August 2019: The seventh day: the family are doing a number of things together.
