While human beings learn to cope with Covid-19 the swans on the Thames are having problems of their own - as Avian influenza sweeps through their population.

The Queen's swan marker David Barber MVO is the man responsible for keeping watch over the health of the swans. He leads each year's 'swan upping' expedition in which birds along the Thames are 'ringed' and released to check their numbers and overall health.

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This week Mr Barber asked members of the public to feed the swans on the Thames as much as they can during the cold winter months, to help keep up their strength so they can more effectively keep the virus at bay.

He said: "This disease has killed many hundreds of swans throughout the country in 2020.

"We would ask members of the public to continue feeding swans, subject of course to Covid-19 regulations."

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Doing this will make is less likely that swans will fly to other areas looking for food and spread the infection.

Avian influenza is not a threat to humans.

The ideal food to feed swans with is leafy greens, bread that is not mouldy, wheat, swan pellets or mouldy corn.