Royal swan count on Thames sees numbers resurface after dip
The tradition of swan upping sees six boats sailing from Sunbury Lock in west London to Abingdon Bridge in Oxfordshire, with the "swan uppers" counting, weighing and giving a health check to young swans found along the way.The annual event has also become a popular spectacle, with crowds gathering along the riverbank in the sunshine to watch the boats go past, with their colourful flags and crews in ceremonial outfits.
The fall in swan numbers had threatened to make the classic image of swans on the Thames an increasingly rare sight.But the swan uppers have more more positive news about the swan population and will be hoping a corner has been turned. Although it's still down on the 155 counted in 2022.At the outset of the trip, Mr Barber said he was hoping that avian flu had "eased off", after an impact on the swan population that had been "quite disastrous"."Fortunately, there has been a decrease in reported cases of the disease in the River Thames area in recent months," said the King's swan marker.
With a swan's feather in his cap and wearing a scarlet jacket, Mr Barber spoke of the risks to swans nesting on the Thames.He said their search found swans needing to be cleaned from pollution such as engine oil. Fishing tackle was a longstanding problem and there were attacks from dogs and vandalism from humans.Swan upping dates back to the 12th Century and was once about counting royal property - with the monarch having ownership of unmarked mute swans swimming on open water.But is now more about conservation and education, involving schools along the route and helping to teach young people to respect and protect swans.In particular Mr Barber wants to discourage young people from the mistreatment of swans - such as shooting them with catapults, which he says causes terrible suffering.The figures so far show a more hopeful picture for swans on the Thames.
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