The Thames, England (Swan Upping)
My Form for the King's Swan Census
Every July, rowing crews count the young swans on the Thames, for the King. I helped with the paperwork.
Swan Upping, the census of swans on the Thames, came round again. For five days, crews from two old London livery companies row upriver with the King’s Swan Marker, checking the cygnets. On day one, they counted 16. I helped with the paperwork.
The Census Form
Name: The swan declined to give one.
Age: Young. Very fluffy. Grey, not white yet.
Occupation: Gliding.
Address: The River Thames, the nice part.
Health: Good, said the experts. But some young birds this year were hurt by litter and old fishing line, which is terrible. Please take your rubbish home.
Signature: A webbed footprint, approximately.
My Count
The crews counted 16 cygnets on day one. I counted 17. They counted the cygnets. I counted the cygnets, plus one very elegant man on the riverbank, gliding along in a fine coat.
One of the rowers told me I can’t be counted as a swan. I said nobody is perfect. Then they put the cygnets back in the water with their parents, which was the best part of the whole day.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the point of counting swans?
It's a tradition going back centuries, and these days it's also a health check for the young birds. Very useful. Very royal.
Did you get to row?
No. I supervised from the bank, which is harder than it looks.