It’s a tale of two continents.
Every July, with the exception of a pandemic-related pause, an annual census is taken of the mute swans along the River Thames. They are rounded up, tagged and sent back into the wild. Why? Because the King of England can technically claim ownership of all unmarked mute swans in the United Kingdom, although really he only does so along a short portion of the Thames River. It’s a tradition that dates all the way back to the 12th century and is called swan upping.
However, across the Atlantic, they aren’t nearly as revered. In fact, they are viewed as a nuisance by many U.S. states.
Part of the problem is they aren’t native to North America. They were introduced in the late 19th century and have slowly taken over some waterways, driving out native fauna and flora. They also are aggressive.
So, is the graceful and beautiful mute swan an aggressive nuisance or a tame, regal creature? The answer depends on where you are located.
I’ve spotted the Mute Swan in both countries: The first time, one was gliding slowly along the River Avon just outside of Warwick Castle in England. The second time, there was a pond full of swans located next to a winery near Seneca Lake in upstate New York. Both times, the swans were beautiful and didn’t bother me. But I will admit I saw many more of them in New York than in England.
Warwick Castle was a great castle to visit, one of the biggest and most interactive I’ve been too. In addition to the ability to climb atop towers and walk through eloquent rooms, there’s also bird flight shows. In addition, a hotel is opening up at the castle for those who might want to stay there.
I visited the Finger Lakes region right before and as it was hit by the remnants of a hurricane, but we spent one day at Wagner Vineyards Estate Winery learning about how wine was made and getting to walk around part of the vineyards. I remember because the hurricane was arriving, there weren’t a lot of people there, so it made for a nice day. It’s a magnificent setting with Seneca Lake in the background too (plus beautiful swans as well!).