International swan census
Last week, hundreds of dedicated observers across Europe ventured out to take part in the International Swan Census. The census happens every five years and aims to record all of the Bewick’s swans in the Northwest European population along with their distribution and breeding success.
This information will be crucial in determining the current state of the population which was seen to decline by 38% between 1995 and 2010. We are particularly interested to see whether numbers have continued to drop since the last census in 2010. This big swan count is organised by the Wetlands International/IUCN Swan Specialist Group whilst WWT coordinates the British survey. Our centres at Slimbridge and Welney and the surrounding Ouse Washes are the most important British wintering sites for the species.
WWT and RSPB staff with Dutch ornithologists Wim Tijsen and Kees Oosterbeak recorded 2,887 Bewick’s swans across the Ouse Washes and 192 at Slimbridge. These figures will feed into the final total recorded across Europe and we look forward to reporting the full results in due course.
WWT are currently working with colleagues across the swans’ migratory route to implement the Bewick’s Swan Action Plan which was developed following concern about the dwindling population. This body of work includes the identification of factors causing the decline, maintaining suitable habitat and tackling avoidable causes of death including power line collisions and illegal shooting.
