Swan Support

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Swan Support If you see an injured swan or have any concerns about a swan please call 07968 868172 or 01628 876336
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We are a swan rehabilitation centre rescuing, treating and caring for sick and injured swans in the Thames Valley and surrounding areas. We are passionate in educating the public about the detrimental effect human behaviour can have on swans and other water birds. We operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and are the only charity in the area to have over 50 years combined experience in rescuing & treating swans. We are also often called upon to advise and work with other organisations on the handling and treating of swans. If you have any concerns or see an injured swan please call 07968 868172 or 01628 376336 or email [email protected]

What started as a call to help a swan in the middle of Newbury High Street ended with a heartbreaking discovery.We were ...
08/10/2026

What started as a call to help a swan in the middle of Newbury High Street ended with a heartbreaking discovery.

We were called to a swan who had ended up sitting outside Boots on Newbury High Street. Eyewitnesses had seen her fall from the roof. Unlike many birds, swans need an incredibly long run-up to take flight, so sadly she would have had no way of taking off from the roof and simply fell to the ground below.

Our rescuer safely picked her up and carried out a thorough check, initially hoping that, once assessed, she might simply need some help before being safely released.

Sadly, a suspicious lump was found, so she was brought back to Swan Support HQ for further examination.

Our worst fears were confirmed. An X-ray showed three ai**un pellets lodged in her body.

She had been shot.

It is incredibly upsetting to think that someone had deliberately targeted this beautiful swan. Just why?

She has since undergone surgery and is now receiving the care and treatment she needs. We are keeping everything crossed that this brave girl will make a full recovery.

For now, she is safe and being given every chance to recover and, hopefully, return to the river where she belongs.

Sadly, this is not an isolated issue. Deliberately targeting or harming swans and other wildlife is a crime, and many of the species we share our rivers and countryside with are protected.

If you see someone shooting at, harming or deliberately targeting wildlife, please don’t ignore it. If it is happening at the time, it is a crime in progress — call 999.

Together, we can help protect the wildlife around us. They deserve to feel safe in the places they call home.

We’ve been busy tending to many, many displaced cygnets lately… on roads, in gardens and sometimes even among other swan...
03/10/2026

We’ve been busy tending to many, many displaced cygnets lately… on roads, in gardens and sometimes even among other swan families.

It’s that time of year when the youngsters are beginning to find their independence. Some are taking their first flights with their ‘L plates’ on and don’t quite get it right, while others are being given a very clear message from Mum and Dad that it’s time to leave home!

For those with rings from Swan Upping, we’re able to watch how the parents are behaving towards their other cygnets before deciding whether a youngster should be returned. What we don’t want to do is assume a cygnet has simply had a flying lesson go wrong, return them to their family, and then discover that the parents are actively chasing them away. They may have been trying to tell them it really is time to leave - and this time, the youngster might not be so lucky.

Some will return to Swan Support HQ for a little extra care, while others may be released into a nearby flock where they can begin their independent life in the wild.
It can be a confusing and vulnerable time for these young swans as they take their first steps into the big wide world without the protection of their parents.

Thankfully, our wonderful team of volunteers and the vigilant members of the public are always on hand to make sure they’re safely picked up and given the right help for their individual circumstances.

Every cygnet is different, and sometimes the safest thing we can do is give them a little helping hand on their journey to independence 💙

This was a rescue that needed a quick intervention on the other side of Oxford.We received a call to say a cygnet was ca...
28/09/2026

This was a rescue that needed a quick intervention on the other side of Oxford.
We received a call to say a cygnet was caught up in fishing line and, because of where he was, we needed a canoe to reach him.

We made our way to the area as quickly and safely as possible, deploying the canoe as soon as we arrived.

We reached the cygnet and found him covered in line and unable to move. We carefully cut him free before taking him ashore, where we could remove the remaining line and give him a thorough check over.

As you can see from the pictures, there was line caught in and around his mouth and wrapped around his leg.

Had he been left like this, the consequences could have been devastating. Entanglement can cause serious injury and, if not treated, could result in a prolonged and extremely distressing death. A panicked bird may also struggle to free itself, potentially causing significant further injuries in the process.
Thankfully, on this occasion, we were able to intervene in time and, once we were happy he was safe and unharmed, release him back onto the water and into the waiting wings of his family.

We also want to acknowledge that it is a small minority of people who fish who give the majority a bad name. Most anglers genuinely care about the birds and wildlife sharing the waterways and regularly contact us when they spot a swan or other waterfowl in trouble - and not just when fishing tackle is involved.

Sadly, there is still a small minority who don’t take the same care, and it is incidents like this that show why responsible fishing and disposing of line and tackle properly really matter.

A huge thank you to the person who spotted this cygnet, raised the alarm and got help to him in time. 💙

20/09/2026

We were called out to this swan who had initially landed on the roof of Costa Coffee in Newbury. Wanting to join his friends on the water, he stepped off the roof - only to drop straight into a no-access area, leaving him pacing along the fence line.

We’re not sure whether it was a slightly misjudged landing or whether the wind had blown him off course, but unlike many other birds, swans need a clear run-up to take flight. So, when he stepped off the roof, he simply dropped straight down.

Getting him back out wasn’t quite as straightforward as we’d hoped! Access was extremely limited, with a door that had apparently never been opened being the main route in. Our rescuers were on their way with a canoe, while our rescuer already on site was preparing to climb through a window when, thankfully, the door finally gave way!

He was safely retrieved and given a thorough check-over following his fall. Thankfully, he appeared to be none the worse for his adventure and was released back onto the water - safely on the right side of the fence this time!

As always, a huge thank you to the vigilant members of the public who spot birds in difficulty and call us when they need help. 💙

This swan was shown the red card… but refused to leave the pitch! Having already delayed the start of the game, this pa...
12/09/2026

This swan was shown the red card… but refused to leave the pitch! Having already delayed the start of the game, this particular pitch invader was clearly in no rush to go anywhere so we were called out to assist - and VAR definitely called this one offside!

There’s also been a bit of a theme recently, with swans being found in fields. Just yesterday, we were called to another swan who had decided to take a break from the river and spend some time grazing.

Swans will sometimes naturally venture into fields, particularly where there is plenty of short grass to graze, and this isn’t necessarily a problem. However, if they’re in an area of long grass, surrounded by trees or fencing, they can struggle to get airborne.

Swans need a surprisingly long run-up on short, clear ground to become airborne and gain enough height to safely navigate obstacles such as trees. If they remain in a field as night falls, they can also become more vulnerable to predators.

Both swans were checked over, found to be well, and safely released back to nearby flocks.

And, as always, a huge thank you to the vigilant and concerned members of the public who take the time to call us. Sometimes, the birds just need a little help finding their way home and we are always happy to oblige 💙

07/09/2026

This little cygnet was going round and round in circles - a worrying sign that can indicate concussion or a neurological problem.

Then things took a frightening turn.

As he drifted towards an overgrown bank, he became caught in the branches. Panicking, he struggled desperately to free himself - but the more he fought, the more tangled he became. We were already on our way and got there as quickly and safely as we could. Our rescuer jumped straight in and waded across to him.

But he had minutes left.

The branch had become so tightly wrapped around him that it was now strangling him.

He was carefully freed and is now recovering at SS HQ, where he can be monitored and given the time he needs to recover.

A huge thank you to the member of the public who spotted him, called us and stayed with him until we arrived. You may never know just how important that decision was.

Because sometimes, making that call - and staying until help arrives - can quite literally mean the difference between life and death.

This is a brilliant outcome for a baby who has so much more living to do. Once he has fully recovered, we hope he’ll be back where he belongs - out in the wild - later this year.

If you see a swan or cygnet in distress, please don't wait or assume someone else will help. Call Swan Support. Every second can count.

Thank You 💙

25/08/2026

When two tribes go to war…

A resident pair, well known to us, have been living peacefully on this stretch of the River Thames, raising this year’s four cygnets with little incident… until now!

Another pair, with five cygnets, have moved in right in the middle of their territory - and the drama has begun!

Unusually, both the resident pair are currently in their annual moult. Normally, the female moults first, around two weeks after the cygnets hatch, and once she is fully flighted, the male starts his. This means there is usually always one parent able to defend the territory.

But that hasn’t stopped them defending what’s theirs!

This video shows swan politics at its finest. The resident male, on the left of the screen, is slowly edging the new family upstream. But they’re not going willingly and are standing their ground.

They’ve been locked in this stand-off for four hours already. Eventually, boundaries will be established and they’ll separate — only for the whole saga to potentially begin again tomorrow!

For now, we’re monitoring the situation closely. Once the adults are fully flighted, there is potential for things to escalate further. Territorial battles can be fierce and, sadly, can sometimes result in serious injury or even death. It’s a fine line between allowing nature to take its course and stepping in when necessary to protect the welfare of the swans involved.

For now, we’re keeping wings and webs crossed that both families can find a way to co-exist until the newcomers are fully flighted and can head off back to wherever they came from.

Who needs the soaps when we have daily episodes of Swans of Anarchy to keep us entertained!

An 8:15am Saturday morning call-out to reports of swans in the road and a collision with a group of cyclists.On arrival,...
16/08/2026

An 8:15am Saturday morning call-out to reports of swans in the road and a collision with a group of cyclists.

On arrival, two kind members of the public - a boater and a passing cyclist - helped our rescuer piece together what had happened.

A family on the water, along with a rather sorry-looking male swan on the roadside, told us that a territorial battle had spilled out onto the road. They had seen three swans, so we assumed it was the resident pair and an unwelcome interloper!

We picked up the male, who, thankfully, appeared to have escaped with little more than his pride and some very dirty feathers. We then checked the resident pair, as one swan had reportedly been hit by cyclists.

Just as we were about to leave, the cyclist returned to tell us about another swan in a bush much further up the road. Unfortunately, she had been hit and was bloodied, with some scuffs and superficial injuries and a small head wound. She needed to come back to SS HQ for a clean-up and observation.

Our rescuer suspected the two injured swans were a pair - and when they were reunited, they displayed as though they hadn’t seen each other in years - it was quite a sight and definitely worth getting out of bed for on a Saturday morning 💙

Both spent some time recovering at Swan Support HQ before being released together into a nearby flock a few days later.

Here they are shortly after their release, safely recovered from their ordeal

An appreciation post 💙In addition to our rescue work, we also formally support a number of regattas, with our boats on t...
13/08/2026

An appreciation post 💙

In addition to our rescue work, we also formally support a number of regattas, with our boats on the water helping to keep swans and geese safe and out of the way of the racing.

These are long days - often 12 hours - and in all weathers. They’re an important part of what we do, but they also take their toll on our boats and equipment.

So, we’d like to say a huge thank you to Barrus for their incredible support this year. Barrus generously supplied us with three new engines in time for Henley Royal Regatta and Swan Upping, and their donation has made a real difference - not only to our ability to carry out our work, but also to our funds.

We’re a small charity, and like so many charities, particularly those involved in wildlife rescue where grant funding can be extremely limited, every penny matters. The cost of maintaining our rescue boats and vehicles quickly adds up when they’re being used so extensively throughout the year.

Barrus, thank you again for your generosity and continued support. It genuinely means a huge amount to us, and we couldn’t do what we do without the support of organisations and individuals who help us make a difference 💙

“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." – Helen KellerTwo recent rescues in Caversham perfectly illustr...
04/08/2026

“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." – Helen Keller

Two recent rescues in Caversham perfectly illustrated just how true those words are.

The first involved a swan spotted with a badly bloodied neck. He wasn't interested in food and had retreated into the middle of the water, so we knew time was of the essence.
Thanks to the kindness and quick thinking of the wonderful Charley from Tingdene Marina, who immediately helped our rescuer with a boat, the swan was safely captured and rushed for urgent veterinary treatment. Sadly, despite everyone's best efforts, his injuries were too severe and he passed away. Losing a bird is always the hardest part of what we do, but we take comfort in knowing he received every chance possible because people came together to help.

Later that same week, we received reports of another swan from the Caversham flock who was unable to hold his head up. Once again, teamwork made all the difference. Our rescuer was supported by the fantastic Thames River Cruisers, who generously provided access and a boat to help us reach him quickly.
He is now back at SS HQ receiving the care he needs, and we're hopeful he will make a full recovery from what appears to be a concussion.

Every rescue starts with someone taking the time to make a phone call. We are incredibly grateful to every concerned member of the public who reports a swan or other water bird in need, and to the businesses, volunteers and local communities who step in to help us when every minute counts.

Together, we really can make a difference 💙

Address

Bray Lakes, Monkey Island Lane
Bray
SL62EB

Telephone

+447968868172

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