The return of a large flock of swans to various spots in the city after an absence of a few years has attracted many visitors for photo opportunities.

But this week a people have been warned to be careful around the swans — between 20 and 42 have been counted at various times by volunteers of the Galway and Claddagh Swan Rescue.

Mary Joyce Glynn, a veteran volunteer, said she was horrified to see images of a child stroking a cygnet at the Claddagh Basin, citing this behaviour as “dangerous”.

Swans can get very protective of their young, she said, and as their wing span is wide and quite strong, she advised parents to keep their children well away from the birds.

“I couldn’t believe parents bringing their children to see the swans and allowing them to approach the cygnets just for a photo opportunity.

She said she appreciated the novelty of seeing so many swans in one place, especially after an absence of a few years, but she again stressed the importance of not interacting with them as they are wildlife, and certainly not feeding them.

“Swans shouldn’t be fed by humans. There is no need to feed them,” she added.

Though nobody knows for sure why the swans disappeared from Galway city shores in recent years — a few pairs did remain — Mary believes that the water on local shores had become “too clean for them”.

She explained that swans need an algae growth in the water for feeding purposes.

“Seeing the flock of swans returning to Galway is a welcome sign. They are territorial and I see there’s a few family groups.”

The swan colonies can be seen in the Claddagh Basin, Galway Docks and at Lough Atalia.

Mary said that volunteers of the Rescue team, which has their sanctuary in Rusheen Park, Barna, had been “run off their feet” during the month of June but that things had quietened down since.

The sanctuary rescue and mind a variety of birds, not just swans, including a goose named Lucy who was rescued off the new motorway at Athenry a few years ago.

The Swan Rescue service was founded in 2001 after an oil spillage in the Claddagh led to a number of swans needing to be rescued.

As well as rescuing birds, the service also raises awareness about feathered wildlife.

The service can be contacted by email on claddaghswanrescue@gmail.com or in emergencies by calling 086-3826471

Pictured: Swans pass by as people relax close to the Spanish Arch.  Photo: Joe O’Shaughnessy.