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Bird Flu Outbreak Threatens Swan Populations in Thames Valley
A concerning surge in suspected bird flu cases is prompting a collaborative effort from members of the public and charity volunteers to contain the outbreak among swans in the Thames Valley region.Authorities are grappling with indications that official case numbers may significantly underestimate the true scale of the crisis.
Since October, the Animal and Plant Health Agency (Apha), an agency sponsored by the Department for Environment, food and Rural Affairs (Defra), has recorded 324 cases of bird flu in swans. Alarmingly,39 of these cases were identified within the first four weeks of 2026 alone,signaling an accelerating trend.
However, growing anxieties suggest the official tally doesn’t reflect the full extent of the devastation. The animal welfare charity, Swan Support, reported discovering 46 deceased swans in the borough of Windsor and Maidenhead as January 17th, with an additional 26 found in Newbury. Recent discoveries include two swans found dead in Windsor on Thursday and three more in the Berkshire village of Hurley on Friday.
The symptoms observed in affected birds are particularly distressing. According to Wendy Hermon, the operations director at Swan Support, the swans have been exhibiting signs of neurological distress, including “spinning around in circles [and] bleeding from the eyes,” alongside general lethargy.These observations strongly suggest avian influenza as the underlying cause.
While Swan support has submitted recovered bodies to Defra for testing,confirmation of bird flu as the cause of death remains pending. This delay in official confirmation is fueling concerns about the accuracy of the reported figures.
The current outbreak builds upon a pattern of devastation that began in 2021, when the H5N1 strain of bird flu began to decimate bird populations across the United Kingdom. This highly infectious virus can spread rapidly, with scientists estimating that a single infected bird can transmit the disease to as many as 100 others. Transmission occurs through contact with contaminated faeces, mucus, blood, and saliva.
David Barber, the king’s swan marker, who conducts the annual swan census known as swan upping on the River Thames, described the situation as “pretty grim” and one of the worst years he has witnessed for bird flu.He estimates that over 40 swans have died in the Thames Valley region, but believes the actual number is likely double that.”Unfortunately, [Defra] haven’t come back and confirmed that it’s bird flu – [but] we all know that it’s bird flu,” he stated.
Hermon lauded the public’s response, praising their “amazing” efforts in reporting suspected cases to Swan Support. The charity is actively collecting and removing infected birds from waterways in an attempt to curb the virus’s spread. Without this intervention, she warned, “it’s likely that the virus will spread even more” to other vulnerable bird species.
An Apha spokesperson acknowledged the reported wild bird deaths in Berkshire, confirming that several swans have tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza. The agency advises the public to refrain from touching or picking up any dead or visibly sick birds and to practice thorough hand-washing with soap and water after any potential contact with wild bird faeces or feathers.
Swan Support reiterated Apha’s guidance on avoiding contact with affected birds and emphasized the importance of hand hygiene.
Members of the public are encouraged to report any findings of dead wild birds online or by contacting Defra’s helpline at 03
