Ask the Swan Specialist

Swans and cygnets can't enter and exist water with high man-made river walls
By:Brent
Date: 3 June 2014

Hi there

My local state government has announced that they are building a new (replacement) foreshore wall along the banks of the Swan River in Perth. I have noticed that the swans along the river can't move from the water to land and vise-versa for large stretches due to this wall being about 3 foot to 1 foot (depending on the tide and rainfall up river from the estuary) above the water level. I'm wondering if before planning and construction of the wall begins if this wall has a detrimental impact on Swans (or other birds/wildlife in general) and if there are any designs or distance along the foreshore that would help wildlife (eg, no more than 500 meters between an area where wildlife can enter and exist the water easily) that I should be recommending to local politicians and my local council.

PS, I was thinking that cygnets may fall in the water and may not be able to escape with the high wall, I have not seen this so I'm not sure if this is a legitimate concern. Anyway any assistance and advice will be greatly appreciated.

Kind regards

Messages In This Thread

Swans and cygnets can't enter and exist water with high man-made river walls -- Brent -- 3 June 2014
Re: Swans and cygnets can't enter and exist water with high man-made river walls -- The Regal Swan -- 3 June 2014