Swan Upping Inventory is a traditional annual inventory of mute swans on the Thames .
The British monarch traditionally owns all the wild swans in the country. Since the XII century, there is a custom to annually count the royal swans on the Thames and its tributaries. At that time, swans were common food on the royal table. Since the 15th century, the monarch has also granted swan rights to two livery companies of the City of London - a livery company of wine merchants and a livery company of dyers.
The inventory procedure takes place in the third week of July. The Royal Swan Inventors (Swan Uppers), as well as the inventors of the livery companies of winemakers and dyers, float on the river in boats, catch and ring swans. Chicks are measured and weighed.
In July 2009, Elizabeth II became the first monarch in several centuries, who was personally present at this procedure [1] .
In 2012, due to the rain flood, an inventory of swans was carried out only on a part of the river. This happened for the first time [2] .