Flu hitting swans hard as count takes off

SWAN numbers are expected to be hit hard by avian flu while pollution of the river continues to be a problem, writes Emma Dodd.

David Barber, the King’s swan marker, who began the annual swan census on Monday. says the disease had been “quite disastrous” for the swan population.

Mr Barber, who was wearing the insignia of King Charles for the first time, led this year’s annual swan-upping ceremony, which takes place along an 80-mile stretch of the River Thames over five days every July.

More than 100 spectators watched on as representatives of the Crown and the Vintners’ and Dyers’ Livery Companies travelled from Hambleden to Henley on Wednesday in traditional rowing skiffs.

Along the route, which started at the Compleat Angler in Marlow, the crews managed to catch four swan families where they weighed and measured the birds and checked them for any signs of injury.

The biggest family the crews found was just north of Temple Island where the uppers discovered seven cygnets.

The uppers were aided by representatives from the Swan Support charity who helped look after injured birds that were found.

They arrived in Henley at about 1.30pm where they stopped for lunch at Leander Club before Mr Barber gave a talk to children from Sacred Heart school.

Mr Barber who lives in Henley, gave the children a brief lesson on the history of Swan Upping, which dates back to the 12th century.

Jeremy McCarthy, from the Dyers Livery company, explained to pupils what the biggest threats to Swans are.

He said: “The baby swans, the cygnets, they are prone to natural predator, be pike, be mink, herons, some dog attacks and also humans. We had a case recently where the tea from Swan Support found a couple swans that had been shot.

“One of the main problems we do seem to get is with fishing tackle. Sometimes it can get caught in trees, or it can get caught on the bed of the river and swans who are bottom feeders can get caught in the tack with any has been discarded.”

Mr McCarthy then showed the children examples of manmade rubbish that the swan uppers had found on the birds over the years, such as string and fishing floats.

He encouraged the children to look out for fishing tackle or similar waste and pick it up when they are next down by the river.

“If you're out with a dog and have a dog bag or nappy sack or mum and dad might have a tissue in their pocket if you can pick it up and put it in the bin safely.”

At the end of the talk, the children were briefly given the opportunity to see two baby cygnets up close.

Pupil Finlay Hall, 10, said: “I felt really excited just to see the cygnets, I really wanted to stroke them but we didn’t. I have never seen them before.”

Harry Pickup, 10, said: “It was my first time seeing cygnets out of the water and up close, they were so cute and small. I have never seen their feet before.”

Both boys said that the talk had helped them realise how important it was to look after swans and the challenges they face.

At the end of the presentation, Mayor Sarah Miller joined Mr Barber to present the school with a certificate from Buckingham Palace which was collected by Sam Beirne aged 10.

Tim Keech, a swan upper from the Dyers’ company, said that avian flu had been a big challenge the swan population this year and that crews had found a particularly ill swan on the other side of Temple Lock.

Christopher Perrins, a professor of zoology from Oxford University who was working with the swan support team said that swans were being affected by the increased pressure of people on the river.

He said: “Swans eat the vegetation on the bottle of the river. It doesn't last very long because boat propellors damage the reeds and things and cut them short.

“By winter they have to come out on fields to feed in many places. And that's okay, but also more difficult. They have a toughish life on it.”