I realise I have a bit of a wildfowl theme going on at the moment! This is actually a shot from June 2009 but Mrs Asbo is sitting on her nest again - out of shot and hopefully harm's way. I've included it today because her husband Mr Asbo, has been in the news again today. For the non-Brits an 'Asbo' is an Anti-Social Behaviour Order, controversially introduced to control unruly youth but applied elsewhere as well - usually banning people from entering specific areas. Mr Asbo (named by the press!) is an aggressive swan who attacks rowers, and so applications have been made for a license to move him to a new river. I can tell you as a retired cox that it is no fun being flown at by an angry swan but my view is that the river is for the use of swans first, and rowers have to work round them. Within a week of taking this photo those beautiful cygnets had reduced to two, partly as a consequence of flying oars. Fortunately Mr Asbo has a champion - a boat dweller who fights every injunction for him and, because they are nesting again, it is now illegal to move the family. I hope to post some new Junior Asbo pics shortly!
Thanks for sharing another side of life on the river. Love this shot. I find swans very calming but then again I've never been attacked by one because I've intruded their territory.
Great story, I hope they never move them as I belive you are right swans first. It is so sad the littlins were killed. Are swans not protected in the UK?
@cookie123 Yes - hence the license. They are off down a culvert at the moment well out of the way - ironically a couple in a busier area of the river raised 8 youngsters - the trouble with these further down is that it's the place the boats get up to full steam. Fingers crossed this year!
