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BBC News
4 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Royal swan count on Thames sees numbers resurface after dip
Swan numbers have begun to recover on the Thames, after a couple of years of worrying decline, according to an annual royal survey of swans.A five-day search along the Thames, completed on Friday, found 115 young swans, rather than 86 last year, showing signs that the disappearance of swans could be beginning to be traditional count is called "swan upping", but in recent years it has been more like swan downing, with numbers plunging because of avian flu and human cruelty, including reports of swans being attacked by catapults and air the new figures released by the King's swan marker, David Barber, show a more optimistic picture, after a 45% fall over the past two years. 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 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 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 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 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 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 is now more about conservation and education, involving schools along the route and helping to teach young people to respect and protect particular Mr Barber wants to discourage young people from the mistreatment of swans - such as shooting them with catapults, which he says causes terrible figures so far show a more hopeful picture for swans on the Thames. Sign up here to get the latest royal stories and analysis every week with our Royal Watch newsletter. Those outside the UK can sign up here.
BBC News
15-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Swan upping tradition carried out on River Thames
The annual tradition of counting swans on the River Thames has got under count - known as swan upping - is the royal census of birds on the river and dates back to the 12th is designed to give an idea of the health of their population, and is carried out every began at Sunbury Lock in Middlesex on Monday and will finish at Abingdon Bridge, Oxfordshire, on Friday, passing through a number of places including Henley, Sonning and Caversham. This year's swan marker, David Barber, said the previous two counts had shown a "downturn" in cygnet numbers as a result of bird flu."Fortunately, there has been a decrease in reported cases of the disease in the River Thames area in recent months," he said."Calmer river conditions of recent weeks will also benefit young cygnets as they learn to navigate the waterways with their parents."After the event, he will produce an annual report with the results. You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
