It’s Swan Upping time!
The King’s Swan Marker is on his way upstream for the traditional Thames Swan Upping ceremony. The annual census of the swan population on this stretch of the River Thames, from Sunbury to Abingdon, Swan Upping has changed from a mostly ceremonial event to an important element of wildlife conservation.
The Royal Swan Uppers should reach Goring Lock at 5pm on Thursday.
A flotilla of traditional Thames rowing skiffs, manned by Swan Uppers in scarlet rowing shirts and headed by The King’s Swan Marker, wearing a hat with a white swan’s feather, row their way steadily up the Thames. ‘All up!’ they cry as a family of swans and cygnets is spotted, and the Swan Uppers carefully position their boats around the swans, lift them from the water and check their health. The Swan Marker’s iconic five-day journey upriver has been an annual ceremony for hundreds of years, and today it has two clear goals; conservation and education.
They are due to depart Sonning-on-Thames at 9am on Thursday. The schedule is then:
Thursday, July 18
Sonning-on-Thames
(9am - Departure point)
Caversham Lock 10.15am
Mapledurham Lock 12.30pm
Goring Lock 5pm
Moulsford 6pm
Friday, July19
Moulsford 9am - Departure point
Benson Lock 10am
Clifton Hampden Bridge 1pm
Culham Lock 4.15pm
Abingdon Bridge 5pm
The Swan Uppers report that last year saw a considerable downturn in cygnet numbers due to the loss of many of the breeding pairs during the outbreak of Avian Influenza. “So far this year we have received very few reports of Avian Influenza cases within the swan population in the Thames valley; this is very positive. However the swans are contending with very high water levels and strong streams due to the widespread flooding that has washed many nests away. In some cases, the swans may rebuild their nests which could result in a late breeding season this year.”
Dating from the 12th century, the annual ceremony of Swan Upping takes place during the third week of July.
By tradition scarlet uniforms are worn by The King’s Swan Marker David Barber and Swan Uppers, and each of the six traditional Thames rowing skiffs flies the appropriate flag and pennant.
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 and the birds are examined for any sign of injury, commonly caused by fishing hook and line.
With the assistance of The King’s Swan Warden, Prof 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 King’s Swan Warden, whose role is scientific and non-ceremonial.
In the 12th-century The Crown claimed ownership of all mute swans, an important food for banquets.
Today The Crown retains the right of ownership of all unmarked mute swans in open water, but The King 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 15th century.
