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Moment Perth swan family are led to safety on the Tay after heatwave scare

Male swan and cygnets escorted to the River Tay in Perth.
Male swan and cygnets escorted to the River Tay in Perth.

A family of swans has been escorted to safety by council workers following a heatwave scare in Perth.

Local authority teams have been keeping a close eye on the beloved birds which nest at South Inch and then return to the Tay when their young are old enough.

There were concerns that the recent hot weather was threatening to dry up their pond, and emergency plans were being put in place to top up their habitat with water from the River Tay.

Last week, Perth and Kinross Council declared the swans were out of danger following a spell of rain.

And on Wednesday morning, the feathered family were escorted along Marshall Place, on the edge of the city centre, to their new home in the Tay.

Council workers were on hand to make sure the group made it safely across the busy street.

A local authority spokeswoman said the cygnets were old and strong enough to leave their nest at the South Inch.

However, there has been no sign of the adult female. The male swan appears to have been left to raise the young ones on his own.

The Scottish SPCA said it had received calls from worried residents about low water levels at South Inch.

Officers visited the site to check the swans, and found that they were in good health.

An RSPB spokeswoman said: “The dry conditions we are experiencing can leave many natural water sources depleted, meaning birds will need to find alternatives.

“Anyone worried about the survival of a bird or other animal should call an animal welfare charity like the Scottish SPCA or a local animal sanctuary, as these organisations that have the skills and facilities to rescue sick and injured animals.”

The council worked with animal welfare charities, as well as the local Greenspace team, to monitor the pond.

At one stage, the water level was so low it meant the adult swan’s feet were hitting the waterbed when it tried to paddle.

The authority confirmed that a move to call in fire crews to pump water from the Tay was one option that was considered.