In Britain, they're counting swans
In Britain, they're counting swans
With a flurry of flapping wings and a cacophony of confused squeaking, the swan and her downy young cygnets were plucked from the River Thames and passed from boat to shore.
But the men hadn't come to harm the regal birds. Clad in red-and-white outfits emblazoned with the royal livery, on Monday the boatmen were beginning an annual five-day journey to count the population of the waterway's swans, which have theoretically belonged to the monarch since the 12th century.
It's a ceremony that mixes royal pageantry with animal conservation. "Swan Upping" — so called because the boatmen catch the swans by lifting them up from the river — dates from medieval times.
The census carries on as a conservation and education exercise. Queen Elizabeth II still retains the legal right to claim any unmarked swan swimming in any English waterway, although in practice she only claims the swans on the Thames — and then only as a tradition.
The Swan Uppers moved fast when they spotted a family of swans with young cygnets. The rowers drew the boats in and trapped the family with their oars, before picking up the birds, trussing their legs, and lining them up neatly on shore to check them for injuries and weigh them. Barber and his helpers check the birds' identification rings, put a ruler to a cygnet's head, and lifted them up to be stroked by local children.
After a few minutes the birds are usually released back into the water, unless they're found to be injured. In those cases, the swans are taken to nearby facilities for treatment.
Data collected during the census — which takes place in the third week of July every year — enables conservationists to tailor methods to protect the swans, which remain at risk from concrete or steel banks, vandalism and fishing tackle.
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- Posted on July 20, 2010
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wow! i love swans they are one of my favorite birds that would be so cool to have one as a pet.If o had one that would be the coolest thing.
I think this article is interesting and the swans in the picture are very beautiful. I would want to go there and see the swans myself. I think the swans are a very majestic animals and are very entertaining to watch in the water. When the swans gets petted, I wonder if the baby swans enjoy it, instead of trying to escape. Instead of bringing the swans out of the water to let them be petted they should leave them there unless if they are injured.
wow.Swans are beautiful.I remember when i saw one up close.i count them so i know how much bread to bring.there a lake were u can see a lot but i forget what it was called.
That's amazing what she does! Despite how cruel this could sound to some people, this will actually more than likely save some of these beautiful bird's lives! And the children get to learn about and love the swans, thus they will be even less likely to try and harm one of these majestic birds when they grow older.
That's amazing what she does! Despite how cruel this could sound to some people, this will actually more than likely save some of these beautiful bird's lives! And the children get to learn about and love the swans, thus they will be even less likely to try and harm one of these majestic birds when they grow older.
That's amazing what she does! Despite how cruel this could sound to some people, this will actually more than likely save some of these beautiful bird's lives! And the children get to learn about and love the swans, thus they will be even less likely to try and harm one of these majestic birds when they grow older.
That's amazing what she does! Despite how cruel this could sound to some people, this will actually more than likely save some of these beautiful bird's lives! And the children get to learn about and love the swans, thus they will be even less likely to try and harm one of these majestic birds when they grow older.
I think this story is so amazing! I would love to have a swan! It would be nice to be Queen Elizabeth to be able to own and pet them. I think it is a good tradition to capture the birds to make sure they are safe and sound. I wonder if any swans die from year to year?
Wow , the swans are so beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think swans are just so fasinating. One time I saw a swan in a lake in pennslvania in the poconos.
Wow! Swans are so pretty I love swans if I had a swan of my own I would put a crown on it forever I would
like to see swans being born that would be so CUTE!