Wildlife

Wild Bewick's Swan Climate Welfare

Bewick's swans are declining winter visitors to the UK, with climate change reducing the need to fly as far south and increasing competition on traditional wintering grounds.

Key Facts

Bewick's swans breed in Russian Arctic tundra and winter in northwest Europe
UK populations declined from 7,000 to under 5,000 birds between 1995 and 2020
Warming Russian breeding grounds may be improving breeding success but swans winter further east
WWT Slimbridge holds the most important UK Bewick's swan wintering site
Individual Bewick's swans can be recognised by unique bill patterns and marked at Slimbridge

Welfare Considerations

Bewick's swan welfare is affected by Arctic breeding conditions and changing wintering patterns from climate change. Maintaining traditional wintering sites protects welfare of populations still migrating.

What You Can Do

Visit WWT Slimbridge to observe Bewick's swans and support wetland conservation
Record Bewick's swan sightings through WWT monitoring schemes
Donate to WWT and Arctic breeding ground conservation
Support climate action addressing the root cause of Bewick's swan population changes