Swan Upping, the annual census of the swan population on the River Thames, was announced today by David Barber, The Queen’s Swan Marker.
This year’s Swan Upping will start on Monday 16th July departing from Sunbury and ends at Abingdon, Oxfordshire on Friday 20th July.
Announcing the dates for Swan Upping, David Barber reported:
“The swan population on the River Thames suffered a severe attack of duck virus enteritis in early 2011 that resulted in the loss of many of its breeding pairs. The impact of this disease on the number of cygnets counted during Swan Upping 2011 was a 20% reduction compared to 2010 which was extremely disappointing.
This year, there has been an increase in the number of nesting pairs reported. However, the floods we experienced on the Thames in May will again have a serious effect on the number of cygnets born, as the high water and fast flowing stream resulted in many nests being washed away. The effect of the floods on the nesting pairs will be established during the Swan Upping census in July.
Vandalism remains a constant threat to swan numbers and is one of the primary causes of fatalities among mute swans and young cygnets together with fishing tackle injuries. The number of vandal attacks has continued to increase over the past year. Shootings with air rifles and catapults cause horrific injuries, unnecessary suffering and slow deaths.
As part of the celebration of The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, we are involving more schools in Swan Upping this year. Education plays an increasingly significant role in Swan Upping and the Swan Uppers enjoy meeting school children during their five day journey up river, when they talk to them about The Queen’s ownership of mute swans and the history associated with it. The Swan Uppers also discuss the mute swan’s habitat and life cycle in a continuing attempt to raise the children’s’ awareness of, and interest in, wildlife.”
Local schools seeking further information should contact the Swan Marker's office on +44 (0)1628 523030 or email info@royalswan.co.uk.
Download a copy of The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Edition of the Swan Upping brochure here.
The observation points and times are as follows (all times given are approximate):
Monday 16th July 2012
Sunbury 09.00 - Departure point
Shepperton Lock 10.45
Penton Hook Lock 12.30
Romney Lock 17.30
Tuesday 17th July 2012
Eton Bridge 09.00 - Departure point
Boveney Lock 10.15
Boulters Lock 13.00
Marlow Lock 17.30
Wednesday 18th July 2012
Marlow Bridge 09.00 - Departure point
Hurley Lock 10.30
Hambleden Lock 12.00
Henley Town 13.30
Marsh Lock 16.00
Shiplake Lock 17.00
Sonning Bridge 18.00
Thursday 19th July 2012
Sonning-on-Thames 09.00 - Departure point
Caversham Lock 10.30
Mapledurham Lock 12.30
Goring Lock 17.00
Moulsford 18.00
Friday 20th July 2012
Moulsford 09.00 - Departure point
Benson Lock 10.15
Clifton Hampden Bridge 13.00
Culham Lock 16.15
Abingdon Bridge 17.30
Press boat
The press boat will depart Shepperton Lock at 10.30 on Monday 16th July, Eton Bridge at 09.00 on Tuesday 17th July and Marlow Bridge at 09.00 on Wednesday 18th July. Media wishing to reserve a place to board the press boat should contact the Swan Marker's Office on +44 (0)1628 523030 or email info@royalswan.co.uk.
Notes to Editors
The ceremony of Swan Upping takes place during the third week of July every year. Swan Upping dates from the twelfth century, when The Crown claimed ownership of all mute swans which were considered an important food source for banquets and feasts. Today The Crown retains the right of ownership of all unmarked mute swans in open water, but The Queen mainly exercises this right on certain stretches of the River Thames and its surrounding tributaries. This ownership is shared with the Vintners' and Dyers' Livery Companies who were granted rights of ownership by The Crown in the fifteenth century. The swans are counted but are no longer eaten.
The Queen's Swan Marker and the accompanying Swan Uppers of the Vintners' and Dyers' Livery Companies use six traditional Thames rowing skiffs in their five-day journey upstream to Abingdon. By tradition scarlet uniforms are worn by The Queen's Swan Marker and Swan Uppers, and each boat flies the appropriate flag and pennant. In recent years, The Queen travelled up the River Thames to witness the historic ceremony.
It has always been the duty of the Sovereign’s Swan Marker to count the number of young cygnets each year and ensure that the swan population is maintained. The cygnets are weighed and measured to obtain estimates of growth rates and the birds are examined for any sign of injury, commonly caused by fishing hook and line. With the assistance of The Queen’s Swan Warden, Professor Christopher Perrins of the University of Oxford, the swans and young cygnets are also assessed for any signs of disease. The cygnets are ringed with individual identification numbers by The Queen's Swan Warden, whose role is scientific and non-ceremonial. The Queen's Swan Marker produces an annual report after Swan Upping detailing the number of swans, broods and cygnets counted during the week.
Apart from Swan Upping, The Queen's Swan Marker has other duties. He advises organisations throughout the country about swan welfare and incidents involving swans, he monitors the health of the local swan population and advises fishing and boating organisations how to work with wildlife. The Queen’s Swan Marker works closely with swan-rescue organisations and supervises the rescue of sick and injured swans. He also co-ordinates the removal of swans from stretches of the river Thames used for summer rowing regattas.
