Residents living near Canvey Lake in Essex say they are “broken” and “devastated” after a family of swans died amid concerns about blue-green algae and deteriorating water quality.
The lake was home to two adult swans that produced nine cygnets this year. Two cygnets were killed by foxes, while four were taken to South Essex Wildlife Hospital in June. One of those cygnets later died from avian botulism.
The remaining three cygnets and their parents were taken to the wildlife hospital on Tuesday after concerns were raised about Canvey Lake’s worsening condition. The three adult and young swans died on Friday.
Martin England, 62, a committee member of Friends of Canvey Lake, described the deaths as an “environmental disaster”.
Sue Schwar, founder of South Essex Wildlife Hospital, said she was “100% sure” the swans had died after being exposed to blue-green algae.
Hayley Cockayne, 50, who lives on Canvey Island, said: “I’m absolutely broken. I’m devastated. I’ve spent four or five hours with them every day for the past three years.
“I always said this year we would lose all the wildlife on this lake. I knew it was coming, but that didn’t make it any easier to accept.”
Canvey Lake was officially registered as a Local Nature Reserve by Canvey Island Town Council in 1998, with the aim of protecting its wildlife and improving the site.
Ms Cockayne said the lake was “dead” and described the situation as “absolutely unacceptable”. She added: “There are not many birds left on it, and several are just floating in the water dead.”
Source: www.bbc.co.uk