Swanning up the river for mediaeval census

Last updated at 16:03 19 July 2004


Modern-day environmental concerns and mediaeval pageantry are being merged as the annual census of swans on the River Thames gets under way today.

Dressed in scarlet uniforms and flying flags, the Queen's Swan Marker and Swan Uppers are taking to the waters in a flotilla of traditional rowing skiffs to count this year's cygnets amid fears of declining numbers.

The 12th century tradition of swan upping dates from a time when the birds were seen as an important food source for banquets and feasts.

While they no longer end up on the royal table, the Crown retains the right to ownership of all unmarked mute swans in open water, a right which has been shared with the Vintners' and Dyers' livery companies of the City of London since the 15th century.

But although the ownership rights extend across the mute swan population, the Queen only exercises them on certain stretches of the Thames and its surrounding tributaries.

Counted and weighed

Representatives from the two London guilds will join the Swan Marker David Barber on a five-day journey up the river from Sunbury, Surrey, to Abingdon, Oxfordshire, counting and weighing the cygnets and checking them for injuries.

The Queen's Swan Warden, Prof Christopher Perrins of Oxford University, whose role is scientific rather than ceremonial, will then ring each cygnet with an individual identification number.

As well as keeping a colourful tradition alive, the ceremony enables experts to assess the impact of modern-day threats to the birds' population such as shooting, vandalism and attacks from dogs.

The Swan Marker produces an annual report after the census detailing the size of population.

Threat from humans

Unveiling the plans for this year's swan upping last month, Swan Marker David Barber revealed that the number of breeding pairs nesting along the central Thames area, where the census takes place, had seen a decline this year.

While the impact of mink attacks had been lower than last year, he said that the threat from humans had remained high.

At other times of the year his duties include monitoring the health of the local swan population and giving advice on their welfare to organisations up and down the country.

He also provides practical protection to the swans, supervising the rescue of sick and injured birds and removing them from stretches of the river used for rowing regattas.

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