Watch: Leith swan struggles to keep nest clear of rubbish

A swan has been spotted in the Water of Leith struggling to keep its nest clear of rubbish which has been tossed in by passers-by.

On Friday, at around 6pm, Leith resident Susan McColl spotted the bird in the water at the junction of Commercial Street and the Shore, plucking pieces of rubbish out from its nest.

The 51-year-old told the Evening News: “As you can see the poor swan is still fighting to keep her nest free of rubbish.

“The Shore is as busy as ever with people. The bins are overflowing. Honestly makes me just so sad.”

The swan was seen to be struggling to clear its nest of rubbish at the Shore

Volunteers from the Water of Leith Conservation Trust have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic to keep litter clear of the water and enhance the river and walkways for both animals and visitors alike.

They often take a small boat out to sweep along and clear litter from the Water of Leith, sharing their work on Facebook.

Scottish SPCA chief superintendent Mike Flynn said: “It’s a shame to see this swan struggling to keep its nest clear of litter. Sadly, this seems to be a reoccurring issue in the Leith area.

“Everyone has a responsibility to dispose of litter responsibly. Rubbish can pose a life-threatening risk to wildlife. Birds can get caught up in it, all types of wild animal can eat it and we see first-hand that the consequences of this can be deadly.

“If anyone does find an animal in distress they should call the Scottish SPCA’s free animal helpline on 03000 999 999.”

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this article. We're more reliant on your support than ever as the shift in consumer habits brought about by coronavirus impacts our advertisers.

If you haven't already, please consider supporting our trusted, fact-checked journalism by taking out a digital subscription.