WATERFOWL wardens in Dawlish are continuing to monitor the safety of the town’s Black Swan population.

Concerns have been raised as Bert, the main male swan, is exerting dominant behaviour towards his latest brood. 

The juveniles have been seen at various locations on the Brook due to Bert’s behaviour as a new clutch of six eggs has been laid in rushes beside the Brook. 

A spokesman for the waterfowl wardens said: ‘We confirmed the location of all juvenile black swans. 

‘They are frequently in varying locations on the Brook due to Bert exerting his territorial dominance to protect his nest opposite the compound.  

‘They have been seen as far as Dawlish Hospital and we are happy for them to be there in the short term as they are safe from dogs, and far enough from Bert not to aggravate him further.’

The wardens have appeared to the public not to feed the swans.

They feed them every morning which is sufficient in addition to their normal foraging in the Brook. 

It is hoped when the eggs hatch, Bert will be more focused on keeping the cygnets in check, and the juveniles will then be more visible in the main stretch of water.

Bert can often be seen with his tail feathers high which is a sign of asserting his dominance and protecting his eggs. 

There is no intention by the wardens to move any of the juvenile swans and they believe the young swans are content and not distressed. 

Bert appears not to be as aggressive as he has been to previous cygnets and not have been forced off into the road. 

There are now six eggs on the nest which has been cordoned off. 

A spokesman added: ‘We appreciate your support with keeping your distance and not distressing the swan and her eggs.’   

The swans have been the emblem of Dawlish for more than 50 years.

There are records of them in the early 20th century but they died out between the two world wars. 

In the late 1940s, Captain GRS Pitman, a game warden in Uganda, presented a pair of Black Swans to Dawlish in memory of his parents.