86% decline in Bewick’s swans at Slimbridge wildlife reserve over last 50 years
WWT say rising global temperature's to blame.
Last updated 5th Mar 2025
WWT say they've seen a steady decline in the numbers of the much-loved Bewick's birds- who spend their winters in Gloucestershire every year.
The numbers of the birds at WWT Slimbridge this year has fallen by 85.7% since the peak count of 610 in the winter of 1978-79, while there were no cygnets (baby swans) at all
Climate change has contributed to this decline; warmer temperatures in Europe mean the Bewick’s don’t need to travel as far from arctic Russia to reach ice-free wetlands- also known as short-stopping.
Early figures suggest over 7,000 Bewick’s short-stopped in parts of Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands instead.
Reserve Manager at WWT Slimbridge, Martin McGill, said: “Bewick’s swans are hugely important to our history here at WWT and it’s almost impossible to imagine Slimbridge without them.
"We love welcoming them back each winter so it’s terribly sad to see so few of them this year and without any cygnets.
“Visitors have a special bond with the Bewick’s, and Slimbridge offers a unique chance to see these special birds up close.
"We make sure the Bewick’s swans have everything they need while they’re with us, but we know they face challenges on their migrations and at their breeding grounds.
"We need more wetlands to help us reverse the impacts of climate change and prevent situations like this from happening in future.
“While this winter has been concerning, I’m hopeful our visitors will still be able to enjoy the sight of these beautiful birds, thanks to the ongoing efforts of WWT and our partners.”
Bewick’s swans were first monitored by WWT founder and conservationist Sir Peter Scott in 1964.
Since then, more than 10,000 Bewick’s swans have made WWT Slimbridge home for the winter, including the famous pond-elder 27-year-old ‘Winkey’, who returned this season after first wintering at Slimbridge in 2001.
Bewick’s swans are small white swans with a black and yellow bill (pictured).
Sir Peter’s methods of identifying Bewick’s by their bill patterns is still used by WWT conservation teams today.