WWT Welney starts winter with a swanfall!
Hundreds of swans are blown in on winter winds
After a promising forecast for swan migration over the weekend, WWT Welney Wetland Centre is now home to over 600 whooper swans and last Monday (14 October) saw the arrival of the first two Bewick’s swans.
These numbers will increase in the coming week to a total of 9,000 swans, some of which are well known to the staff and the people who visit each winter.
Bewick’s swans can be identified by the individual bill patterns due to the fact that they are as unique as human fingerprints. But with over 3,000 of them wintering on the Ouse washes as well as 6,000 whooper swans, it is much easier to identify any swans that have leg or neck rings with identification codes.
The arrival of well known characters such as Baldur (yellow leg ring U5B) and his mate (yellow leg ring U5S), Old Bedford (yellow leg ring J9V) or Skyfall (yellow leg ring N3E) will be eagerly anticipated at WWT Welney.
Swan researchers throughout Europe catch swans to take measurements and check the health of these individuals to use as an indicator of how the species are fairing. At these times identification rings are fitted to the legs or neck of the swan so that it is easier to track the individual. These rings can be read with the aid of binoculars or telescopes without the swans needing to be re-captured and anyone can help.
Sam Lee, Public Engagement Officer at WWT Welney, says:
‘Identification rings on swans form a vital part in the research about their migratory patterns’
‘It’s fascinating to find out about our swans, where they have been, who they choose to spend their lives with and how many cygnets they are bringing back to the UK with them each year’
‘The more people that report sightings of ringed swans the better we understand these majestic birds and are given an insight into their lives so that we can help to protect them.’
Visitors to WWT Welney can report swan leg rings from the reserve or from sightings in the surrounding area to staff to help with this research. All they need to do it note down the colour of the ring and the 3 or 4 digit code. This winter visitors will also be able to find out the life histories of their swans by using the new interactive swan ring station in the main observatory. For those that can’t get to the centre the best thing to do is to report sightings through colourmarkedswans@wwt.org.uk or info.welney@wwt.org.uk.
WWT Welney Wetland Centre is open daily and offers great opportunities for people to get closer to the birds that make winter such a spectacular time to connect with nature.
