BEWICK’S SWAN RESEARCH

Researchers from around the world are meeting in Estonia from 16-19 October to discuss the plight of the Bewick’s swan. The population fell by 40% between 1995 and 2010.

The Wildfowl & Wetland Trust (WWT) has compared the body weight of swans it has caught over 50 years to see whether intensification in farming might have led to food shortages. “There’s no evidence that the swans are anything other than well fed while they’re here,” said WWT’S Dr Kevin Wood.

Researchers are looking at whether poisoning, collisions, habitat loss or illegal hunting are responsible for the decline.