Whooper swan
1 November 2010
Named after its distinctive, far carrying ‘whooping’ calls, this is one of two species of ‘wild’ swan (the other being the Bewick’s swan), which moves south from their arctic breeding grounds to winter in Britain and Ireland. Numbers wintering in England have increased in recent years and large herds (as they are known) may be seen at traditional roosting sites or feeding on surrounding farmland.
Whooper swans ©Andreas Trepte/www.photo-natur.de
Latin name: Cygnus cygnus
Population numbers:
Although this is a relatively scare species across much of England it can be found in quite large numbers at a few traditional wetland sites. The overall wintering population in England has increased from fewer than 500 birds in the 1960s to over 5,000 birds in recent years.
Where to see and when:
To see this species it is usually necessary to visit one of the small number of sites in England where it traditionally gathers for the winter. Numbers start to build up from October onwards but are at their peak from November through to March. By far the most important sites are the Ouse Washes in Cambridgeshire/Norfolk, and the Ribble Estuary (including Martin Mere) in Lancashire. The birds are fed on waste potatoes in front of public hides at both sites which can result in spectacular close-up views of this and other waterfowl species.
What’s being done:
The major wetland sites used as secure roosts by whooper swans have been designated as SSSIs and Special Protection Areas and the birds here are protected from excessive human disturbance. In some areas, overhead powerlines have been fitted with high visibility markers to reduce the threat of collision when the birds commute between their roosts and surrounding farmland feeding areas.
More information:
Martin Mere
(WWT)Welney
(WWT)Whooper swans
(WWT)
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Native plants, fungi and animals we featured each week for the 2010 International Year of Biodiversity.
