Latest news with #swancensus
ABC News
15-07-2025
- General
- ABC News
King Charles' annual swan census begins on River Thames
The River Thames has transformed into a whirl of scarlet uniforms and wooden skiffs for King Charles III's annual swan census. Known as "Swan Upping", the five-day census to assess the health of the king's swans began in London on Monday, local time. One of the monarch's lesser-known titles is Seigneur of the Swans (Lord of the Swans). According to ancient lore, he or she owns all members of the mute swan species found in Britain's open waters. Every year, a team of carefully selected oarsmen — Swan Uppers — are tasked with finding the swans on a stretch of the Thames. When a family is spotted, they shout, "All up!" and the boats quickly surround the birds, marking them and checking for signs of disease or injury. "It gives us an indication of what's going on throughout the country," said David Barber, who wears a scarlet jacket and a white swan feather in his cap and bears the title of king's swan marker. Mr Barber has been leading the event for more than 30 years. He is accompanied by a vet and oarsmen dressed in three colours: red for the king, white for the Worshipful Company of Vintners and blue stripes for the Worshipful Company of Dyers. The last two are medieval London trade guilds that were granted ownership of some Thames swans in the 15th century. The census tradition dates back to the 12th century, when swans were considered an important food for royal banquets and feasts. While swans are now legally protected from hunting, they face threats from disease, pollution, vandalism and cruelty, Mr Barber said. Their numbers have declined over the past two years, primarily due to outbreaks of avian flu across Britain, according to officials. Mr Barber said only 86 young swans were found during last year's Swan Upping, which was 45 per cent fewer than the year before that. But the king's swan marker appeared positive at the end of the event's first day, with a total of 16 young swans recorded. ABC/Reuters
BBC News
14-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
River Thames: Swan upping tradition returns for annual count
An annual medieval tradition of counting swans on the River Thames is upping is a royal census of the birds on the river, dating back to the 12th Century, which aims to give an insight into their comes after only 86 young swans were found in 2024, a 45% decline in two count is carried out every July by a crew of swan uppers who are dressed in a traditional scarlet uniform and travel along the river in rowing boats counting for five days. The count will start later at Sunbury Lock in Middlesex, and finish at Abingdon Bridge, Oxfordshire, on Friday 18 the count the King's Swan Marker is tasked with tracking the number of young cygnets to ensure the swan population is part of the event, cygnets are weighed and measured to check growth rates and check young and adult swans for any sign of disease or swan marker will then produce an annual report with the results. 'Seen a downturn' This year's swan marker, David Barber, said: "Cygnet numbers in the last two years have seen a downturn, primarily due to the outbreaks of Avian Influenza suffered by the bird population across the United Kingdom. "Fortunately, there has been a decrease in reported cases of the disease in the River Thames area in recent months. "Calmer river conditions of recent weeks will also benefit young cygnets as they learn to navigate the waterways with their parents." What is swan upping? Swan upping dates back to when the crown claimed ownership of "all mute swans", which were considered an important food for banquets and birds are no longer eaten and are now a protected species, however, the crown retains the right of King mainly exercises this right on stretches of the River Thames and ownership is shared with the Vintners' and Dyers' Livery Companies, who were granted rights of ownership by the crown in the 15th cygnets are ringed with a unique British Trust for Ornithology identification number for scientific purposes during the swan upping. Children from local primary schools along the route have been invited to watch the swan upping and ask Barber said: "The children's enthusiasm to demonstrate their knowledge of swans and their habitats is very rewarding, and it's always a joy to have them join us along the route."They are also, of course, fascinated by the royal connection with swans and have lots of interesting questions to ask." You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
