Bewick's swan, Galina, spotted in the UK for the first time after 20 years - WWT

The arrival of a 20-year-old Bewick’s swan at WWT Slimbridge shows how protected wetlands across Europe are helping migratory birds adapt to climate change.

A Bewick’s swan with an extraordinary migratory history has arrived safely at WWT Slimbridge for the first time, more than 20 years after she was first recorded on the Arctic Russian tundra.

The 20-year-old female swan, Galina, was originally caught and colour-ringed by WWT researchers during fieldwork in the Pechora Delta in Arctic Russia. Since then, Galina has travelled thousands of miles across mainland Europe and has now been recorded in the UK for the first time.

Kane Brides, Senior Research Officer at WWT, said: “Because Galina carries a colour ring, WWT researchers know she has been sighted in Germany, the Netherlands, France, Poland and Estonia. Her arrival at WWT Slimbridge offers valuable insight into how Bewick’s swans rely on a network of protected wetlands across Europe. Her return to WWT Slimbridge after 20 years is extraordinary and highlights how vital wetlands are for birds like Galina, even later in life.”

Galina’s arrival is particularly remarkable given the typical lifespan of Bewick’s swans. While they usually live around 9–11 years on average, some individuals recorded by WWT have reached their late twenties.

Galina arrived at WWT Slimbridge with Grinner, a long-standing winter visitor who has returned to the wetland centre every year since 2014. Experts believe the pair are likely newly bonded, even though Galina is around 20 years old. As male Bewick’s swans typically choose wintering sites, it is thought Grinner has brought Galina to WWT Slimbridge, where she is now benefitting from a safe, protected wetland. She is his third known life mate.