Researchers call on public for help to monitor health of swans in Cheshire

Researchers led by a Keele University scientist have called on the public to help them monitor the population of swans in Cheshire with the launch of a new app project. 

The Cheshire Swan Project was set up in 1988 to assess the population of Mute Swans across the county, by recording data about their survival and how swans move throughout the area. 

The researchers do this by fitting individually numbered, coloured leg rings to the birds to keep track of them, and sightings from members of the public are a hugely valuable resource for the team.  

Swans from Cheshire are ringed with dark green leg rings, and have been reported as far afield as Cumbria, Gloucestershire, Lancashire and Northern Ireland. Swans from outside Cheshire, which may have a different coloured leg ring, also regularly move into the county. 

Around 5,200 swans have been ringed under licence from the British Trust for Ornithology since the start of the project, giving researchers valuable insights into the ecology, behaviour, health and welfare of mute swans in Cheshire. This long-term dataset is hugely beneficial for scientists and policymakers working to protect them.  

Dr Jenny Dunn in Keele’s School of Life Sciences has recently taken over the management of the project, and her new role coincides with the launch of a new project using the Epicollect5 app to help members of the public get involved. 

The app is available to download now and makes it easier than ever for the public to report sightings of mute swans – with or without coloured leg rings. 

Dr Dunn, a Lecturer in Parasite Ecology, said: “The launch of the Cheshire Swan App project will help us monitor the health and breeding success of individual swans living in and around Cheshire, providing really valuable insights into their ecology and behaviour. If you see swans in Cheshire, especially those with leg rings, please do sign up and report your sightings to us. It’s easy to sign up to the project and we will then send you detailed instructions on how to use the app.” 

You can sign up for the app project online at this link.

The Cheshire Swan Project is reliant on donations to fund the costs of rings. You can donate through the Keele University website.