Most of the swans you see in England are mute swans (not silent, they are very noisy!) Whooper swans that you see are the ones that migrate from over the water in Iceland, and we also have a few other swans including black swans (actually native to Australia, usually on private land). Do swans mate for life? Yes, but they will go find another mate if one dies or disappears. Also see how to help our ducks and geese.
Swans are excellent parents, and will hiss (they have no teeth) and chase away predators if you disturb them. They can’t break your arm (unless you are a child or have weak bones), but they will put up a fight, as any parent would with their little ones. Natural threats to cygnets are pike, herons, mink and foxes. One swan recently died of a broken heart, after hooligans smashed the eggs in her nest.
Modern life has led to all kinds of hazards for swans, from lead shot (illegal but still found in the water) to fishing line to pylon lines on roads that they can crash into (they have to take a good run at low height to fly, due to their weight). These large birds should be left alone to live their life in nature where possible. However there are lots of things we can do to help these gorgeous creatures.
Swan Upping is the annual census of the swan population on the River Thames. All mute swans on public land are owned by the Queen (an improvement on Henry VIII, who used to eat them). If you find an injured swan or cygnet, contact your local swan sanctuary, local wildlife rescue or vet. It’s a criminal offence to harm swans, so for concerns, call Wildlife Crime Unit, Animal Crimewatch, Crimestoppers (anonymous), RSPCA or the Police.
If you can add a great beauty to something which is already beautiful, then you must be very beautiful – like a white swan adding beauty to a misty lake. Mehmet Mura ildan
I’ve developed into quite a swan. I’m one of those people that will probably look better and better as I get older – until I drop dead of beauty. Rufus Wainwright
Things Swans Do Like
- Village Ponds. Although garden ponds are good for wildlife, most swans live on bigger public waterways (swan sanctuaries often like landowners on call with no natural predators like dogs, so disabled swans can live out their lives in safety, after injury).
- Underwater Food. Swans like pondweed, fish, grubs, insects, tadpoles. This is far better for them than bread, which in many cases can harm (see below).
- Railway Tracks. Swans often think these are rivers in rainy weather. Trains are often delayed, due to swans on the tracks, with their cygnets. Another reason to not support HS2, the disastrous high-speed rail network that as well as harming countless wildlife and trees to make, will kill an estimated 22,000 creatures a year once built (if anything like France’s TGV). And it won’t even stop climate change, as the new stations are planned at airports?
Things Swans Don’t Like
- Power Lines. Swans can fly fast, but need a good run to get going, due to being so big. So they get disoriented near roads, which can result in broken wings or electrocution. Ask your council to install bird diverters, which swans can see.
- Fishing waste. If you angle, take all fishing waste with you, and dispose of responsibly (sealed in the bin or in a fishing line recycling bin that doesn’t resemble a birds’ nest). Lead shot was banned a few years back, but still lurks in some river beds.
- Oil. Oil spills cause birds to lose insulation and waterproofing of their feathers, and they could freeze or drown. Recycle used oil, use a waterless car wash (to stop untreated oily water going down storm drains) and use a funnel to change oil. See tips to be a greener driver. Antifreeze is lethal to pets/wildlife, so let your mechanic change it (or within a controlled environment: use sand or kitty litter to soak up spills, don’t mop it or you’ll spread it even further).
- Botulism (the organism found in honey, why babies should never eat it) harms swan flocks, caused by slow-running water in warm weather. The best prevention is better water and field tests.
- Dogs. We love dogs, but swans don’t (they are natural predators). Keep dogs on leads near swans, for safety of both creatures.
- Plastic. This can choke – from plastic bags to plastic rings to hold beer cans (choose brands wrapped in cardboard: if Stella Artois can do it, so can all the others).
- Balloons. Companies that make them say they ‘biodegrade in the same time as an oak leaf’. In fact, this is six months – more than enough time for them to burst into thousands of fragments in the sky, then fall to the sea (where sea turtles eat them, thinking they are jellyfish). Or to the land, where they can harm swams to cattle (belly ulcers – ask any farmer). One horse recently died in Yorkshire from choking on a balloon. A similar hazard are fire lanterns (these leave a metal spike when they burn out and get mistaken for emergency flares by coastguards). They are also major fire hazards (in hot weather, these like cigarettes are like putting a match to dry paper). Several animals recently died in a German zoo, when a fire lantern fell into an enclosure.
- Kites. Sound harmless? They are not, as the string gets wrapped around the necks and wings of birds of all kinds. Expert advice is to not fly them. If you choose to do so, use biodegradable kites (slightly less dangerous) and avoid use at dawn and dusk (when birds are more likely to be flying).
Should You Feed Bread to Wildfowl?
It’s traditional to feed birds at the village pond, but modern life means this is not so simple. A little fresh wholemeal bread won’t harm. But England now has 60 million people, so if we all did this, the swans end up living on human food, rather their natural food under the water (tadpoles, pondweed etc).
If you do feed the odd slice of bread, break it up into smaller pieces (swans have no teeth and could choke if fed whole slices). Ensure the bread is not white, mouldy, stale or crusty (could cause choking – never feed crackers, hard crusts, pizza crust etc), nor anything with fat (butter, lard, roast dinner grease, sandwich leftovers) as again this negatively affects the waterproofing and insulation of feathers). Which can stop them flying.
The other concern is that artificial feeding can make wildfowl tame enough to start venturing near roads and natural predators (like dogs). Swan Sanctuary say it’s okay to feed (occasional) amounts of fresh (soaked) wholemeal bread, tinned/defrosted sweetcorn/peas or torn lettuce, cabbage or spinach. Throw food on the water (so birds stay within their natural environment) and are less likely to choke on dry ingredients. But that’s all (uneaten food can cause algae and disease). If you already feed wildfowl, reduce food gradually in summer (when there is plenty of food around) or they may starve (the problem with having wildlife rely on you – what happens if you move, go into hospital or even die?)
Books Swans Want You To Read
The Swan: A Biography is a beautifully illustrated book by nature writer Stephen Moss, revealing the secrets of one of our best-loved birds. The Mute Swan is a national treasure; the avian equivalent of Sir David Attenborough. These stately creatures are part of our urban and rural landscapes, a constant presence on lakes, rivers and ponds, yet often misunderstood and featured. The book looks at their seasonal life cycle and their role in history and culture. With stories of wild Whooper and Bewicks swans that visit us in winter, and the black swans of Australia that live here too.
