Swanee’s news to the ‘John Hughes Rumour File’ on Thursday morning that a black swan had been struck down by a cyclist on Monday and died was confirmed later by a local photographer on 6PR Breakfast.

South Perth resident Veronica McPhail said the 7kg adult black swan, who she previously photographed along the foreshore (above), suffered a compound fracture after being struck near the $1.5 million Black Swan habitat near Coode Street.

“What normally happens is when a swan is born on the island or near the wetlands opposite, they grow with their cygnets and, once they’re bigger, they have to go over a bike path to get onto the habitat,” she told Gareth Parker.

“It becomes very problematic when the family literally waddles slowly across the bike path to get into river and onto the habitat, it’s all very close.”

Ms McPhail was meeting with the South Perth council to discuss possible solutions to the issue.

Press PLAY below to hear her chat with Gareth.

Image: Veronica McPhail