The Lake Eola swans have been iconic symbols of downtown Orlando’s central park for more than 100 years. Last weekend I went to the park to photograph the swans, which prompted me to learn more about them.
According to various reports, swans were first introduced in Orlando in 1910 when residents asked the city to acquire the birds for Lake Eola. At the same time, a man named Charles Lord bought four swans for Lake Lucerne – apparently a pair of Royal Mute Swans and a pair of Australian Black Swans.
One of Lord’s Royal Mute Swans was named Billy. He was allegedly from England and formerly part of King George’s flock that swam in the River Thames. Despite his supposed royal pedigree, he proved to be a troublemaker and headline grabber, but he’s also partially responsible for the swans at Lake Eola today.
As the Orlando Sentinel reported in 2021, “… When Charles Lord brought the four swans to Lake Lucerne, Billy was so unrelentingly territorial towards the two black swans, that Lord eventually had them moved to Lake Eola.”
The City of Orlando says the two swans were relocated to Lake Eola in 1922. Those swans, their relatives and many other swans have been part of the park ever since.
That includes the infamous Billy, who was eventually moved from Lake Lucerne to Lake Eola and then went about terrorizing parkgoers for years until his death in 1933 at an age estimated to be 75.
While the Australian Black Swans may have been the first to arrive at Lake Eola, the park is now home to four other species of swans including Trumpeter Swans, Black Neck Swans, Whooper Swans and Royal Mute Swans.
So, with that as prelude, here are the swans of Lake Eola – as well as some other birds who call the park home.
(A reminder, tap on the photo to launch the gallery. And if you’re coming from Facebook, it’s better to go directly to RogerSimmonsPhotography.com to allow you to to zoom in on the photos)
