Swans and Cygnets go walkabout in Eastbourne.

June 2008. A pair of swans with seven cygnets has caused chaos on some roads in Eastbourne. Sussex Police have been called out three time and East Sussex Wildlife Rescue & Ambulance Service (WRAS) have received over 100 calls from local residents whilst the family of swans have gone on a walk about round the local housing estate.

The swans, which are resident at a small pond behind Langney Shopping Centre, have started walking their youngsters around the housing estate over the past 3-4 weeks. They have walked up and round to the car park at Langney Shopping Centre, they have walked round the circumference of the local junior school and even walked along sections of the busy Sevenoaks road.

Unusual behaviour
"This is certainly unusual behaviour and our rescuers have been out numerous times to try and figure out what they are trying to achieve. One possibility it that a nearby pond is no longer accessible to them and they are trying to find an alternative site to go to" said Trevor Weeks, rescue co-ordinator for East Sussex WRAS.

"It is not unusual for swans to move their young away from the pond where they were born to a new site where there is a better food source or where they feel safer. However, they don't normally just wander around in different directions like this" Trevor added.

Don't feed the swans
The swans have turned in minor celebrities when they go walking around the housing estate and people have started feeding them in their front gardens.

"I would like to thank everyone for their help in keeping them safe but please do not feed them when they go wandering as they have started revisiting several gardens knowing that food can be found their. If they start wandering please ring WRAS as soon as possible" said Debbie.

East Sussex WRAS and Swan Watch are looking at the possible reasons for them wandering and are in the process of approaching Natural England. "If we cannot find a solution on site to the problem we may have to look at a licence to move the swans for their own safety. The last thing we want is for one of them to die as a result of their walkabouts" said Trevor Weeks.