Valentine's Day ignored by Lincoln's 'warring' swans

Experts at the University of Lincoln said swans can be "fiercely territorial"

Wildlife experts are attempting to "keep the peace" among three families of "warring" swans in Lincoln.

Swans, which usually mate for life, are also incredibly territorial and do not like to share the love outside their family unit - even on Valentine's Day.

John Nelson, 67, lives on a boat at Brayford Pool, where some of the birds live. “It can be beautiful when the swans face up to each other. It is very much like 'swan lake' as they dance around each other," he said.

“But sometimes they go too far and they fight, full-blooded. It gets quite nasty.”

The birds can be “fiercely territorial” towards each other, according to an expert at the University of Lincoln.

Resident John Nelson described the swans' behaviour as like being "at war"

Dr Laëtitia Maréchal from the swan project, said the birds' territorial nature was central to their behaviour.

“The swans often fluff their feathers to appear bigger and flap their wings," she said. "Normally this is just for show but sometimes it is not.

“Territorial behaviour can escalate and the swans do fight each other,” said Dr Marechal.

Ruffling feathers

The birds are caught each year as part of the project and tagged with a yellow ring on their ankles to track them.

The team also uses an online form, which members of the public can fill out.

“Using the form, we can regularly record where the swans have been seen to understand their movement," Dr Marechal said.

"Some swans that were born in Lincoln were then spotted, using the form, in Yorkshire,” she added.

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