Taffs Mead Embankment in Cardiff has two sets of residents. There are the people who live in the houses overlooking the River Taff, and then residents of an entirely different species altogether - the swans that inhabit the embankment itself. From slowing down the traffic on the road to inspiring artists, the swans have a number of roles in the community.
They are a regular sight for those who live, walk, and park along the embankment. Gathering in large numbers around the riverbank, they can often be spotted taking advantage of food from passers-by. For those who live along the riverbank, they've become co-habitants and much-loved members of the community.
Illustrator Derek Bainton, 50, has lived on the embankment for 10 years, and the swans have provided inspiration for some of his artwork. "I used to live down the docks and would walk up the river to get the train to work," he said.
"One morning, it would've been about seven o'clock, I was on Clarence Bridge by the bay and all the swans were flying up the river and it was almost like the perfect perfect image. Then, the swan in front decides to climb up [in flight] over the river and the other swans followed. But the swans crashed into the bridge.
"So, that's my memory of it. But what a strange situation. Then cars started to go through either side. The swans were in a state of shock, so I called the police and they came."
The strange incident was the inspiration for one of Derek's illustrations, which now sits above a mantlepiece in his house. "They sometimes cross on the crossing which is quite funny - they tend to follow each other." He added that the winged cohabitants of Taffs Mead Embankment are "quite quiet."
"They hiss now and again but they are pretty peaceful creatures. They don't seem to be bothered by the traffic as a danger. Every now and again, they'll cross the road. They'll stop traffic for maybe a good five to ten minutes [...] I think the residents are mindful and respectful of the swans, and so with the traffic - I don't think there's any swan rage or road rage."
Derek added that, when he initially moved to the area, there weren't as many swans on the embankment, and that he has seen the number increase over the years. The traffic-stopping swans are now a regular occurrence it seems, with many other residents along the embankment commenting on the fact that they sometimes venture into the road and stop or slow down the traffic as a result.
Darrell Wilson, 75, said the swans are "a constant source of pleasure because they annoy motorists." He added: "The motorists really annoy me because instead of being patient people get really annoyed. That's the only thing that's the downside [of the swans]. They often cross the road and just stop and take their time. They do attract a lot of visitors. A lot of people come and feed them."
Another resident added: "They do stop the big dumper trucks coming through sometimes, which makes me laugh." Resident Louise Wooley added: "I think they are beautiful, but when they stop traffic and the cars are sounding their horns at 11 at night and you've got small children... for every beautiful thing there's a bad thing."
The swans have become a regular part of the wildlife in the streets of Riverside and Grangetown, perhaps even spending more time on the banks of the river than in it. People have even said they have seen the swans venturing as far as PureGym and the Principality Stadium further north along the river.
Carlos Rey, 52, said: "The animals are quite nice, not noisy. We can hear the geese, but it's alright. I have seen a couple of times when they are trying to cross the road they sometimes stop the traffic.
"From my point of view, the swans are not the problem, it's the traffic. They [the swans] help to slow down the traffic. The community are happy with the swans, and they are a highlight of the area. I think it's a kind of pet of the community."
Another resident said that drunk people sometimes try to steal the swans on match days, and that they have seen people trying to "pick the swans up and carry them off."
Kirsty Green, 23, has been a resident since February, but has already noticed how popular the swans are in the area. She said: "There's always people [feeding them]. They probably get fed about 10 times a day.
"I wouldn't say that they're super loud. Everybody loves feeding them - I see people every single day. We've only been living here since February, but it's a different environment to be in. I've got a big bay window and I sit beside it every morning and look at the swans. I know sometimes swans are notorious for attacking people but they seem calm. They're prized possessions."
RSPB guidelines say "swans eat aquatic vegetation, which their long necks equip them to take from the riverbed. They take the molluscs which cling to the vegetation and also eat small fish, frogs and worms.
"They will graze big grassy fields, and can survive quite successfully in a field of short-cropped grass. Flocks of Bewick's and whooper swans can be seen in potato fields during the winter, feeding on the potatoes left after harvesting.
"Swans normally find enough food in the wild without supplementary feeding. It is only in freezing weather that extra food can be helpful. Many people like feeding bread to swans, but when it's fed in large quantities, it can cause dietary problems, and is no substitute for the proper diet that the birds themselves will seek out.
"Grain, such as wheat, and vegetable matter, especially lettuce and potatoes, can be fed to swans. Food should be thrown into the water to avoid encouraging the birds onto the bank."
