Editing River Thames (section)

== Wildlife ==
[[File:Swan Upping.jpg|thumb|Swan Upping – [[Thames skiff|skiffs]] surround the swans]]

Various species of birds feed off the river or nest on it, some being found both at sea and inland. These include [[great cormorant|cormorant]], [[black-headed gull]] and [[European herring gull|herring gull]]. The [[mute swan]] is a familiar sight on the river but the escaped [[black swan]] is more rare. The annual ceremony of [[Swan Upping]] is an old tradition of counting stocks.

Non-native geese that can be seen include [[Canada goose|Canada geese]], [[Egyptian goose|Egyptian geese]] and [[bar-headed goose|bar-headed geese]], and ducks include the familiar native [[mallard]], plus introduced [[Mandarin duck]] and [[wood duck]]. Other water birds to be found on the Thames include the [[great crested grebe]], [[Eurasian coot|coot]], [[moorhen]], [[grey heron|heron]] and [[European kingfisher|kingfisher]]. Many types of British birds also live alongside the river, although they are not specific to the river habitat.

The Thames contains both sea water and fresh water, thus providing support for seawater and freshwater fish. However, many populations of fish are at risk and are being killed in tens of thousands because of pollutants leaking into the river from human activities.<ref>Peter Ackroyd, ''Thames: The Biography''. 275.</ref> [[Atlantic Salmon|Salmon]], which inhabit both environments, have been reintroduced and a succession of [[fish ladder]]s have been built into [[weir]]s to enable them to travel upstream.

On 5 August 1993, the largest non-tidal salmon in recorded history was caught close to [[Boulters Lock]] in [[Maidenhead]]. The specimen weighed {{cvt|14+1/2|lb|kg}} and measured {{cvt|22|in|cm}} in length. The [[European eel|eel]] is particularly associated with the Thames and there were formerly many eel traps. Freshwater fish of the Thames and its tributaries include [[brown trout]], [[European chub|chub]], [[common dace|dace]], [[common roach|roach]], [[barbel (fish species)|barbel]], [[European perch|perch]], [[northern pike|pike]], [[common bleak|bleak]] and [[flounder]]. Colonies of [[short-snouted seahorse]]s as well as [[School shark|tope]] and [[starry smooth-hound|starry smooth-hound sharks]] have also recently been discovered in the river.<ref>[https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/river-thames-zoological-society-of-london-greenwich-investment-european-b965426.html] The Evening Standard, 10 November 2021</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The Greater Thames Shark Project |url=https://www.zsl.org/conservation/regions/uk-europe/thames-conservation/the-greater-thames-shark-project |website=Zoological Society of London (ZSL) |access-date=29 April 2022 |language=en}}</ref> The Thames is also host to some invasive crustaceans, including the [[signal crayfish]] and the [[Chinese mitten crab]].

Aquatic mammals are also known to inhabit the Thames. The population of [[grey seal|grey]] and [[harbour seal]]s numbers up to 700 in the Thames Estuary. These animals have been sighted as far upriver as Richmond.<ref>{{cite news |author=Stevenson, Chris |date=19 August 2013 |title=Seal count discovers over 700 in Thames Estuary |work=The Independent |location=London |access-date=23 August 2013 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/seal-count-discovers-over-700-in-thames-estuary-8774577.html |archive-date=27 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200827085619/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/seal-count-discovers-over-700-in-thames-estuary-8774577.html |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Common bottlenose dolphin|Bottlenose dolphins]] and [[harbour porpoise]]s are also sighted in the Thames.<ref>{{cite web |date=September 2007 |title=Whales, dolphins and seals returning to the Thames |work=Wildlife Extra |access-date=23 August 2013 |url=http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/thames-dolphins.html#cr |archive-date=9 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150209155157/http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/thames-dolphins.html#cr |url-status=live}}</ref>

On 20 January 2006, a {{cvt|16–18|ft|m}} northern [[bottle-nosed whale]] was seen in the Thames as far upstream as Chelsea. This was extremely unusual: this whale is generally found in deep sea waters. Crowds gathered along the riverbanks to witness the spectacle but there was soon concern, as the animal came within yards of the banks, almost beaching, and crashed into an empty boat causing slight bleeding. About 12 hours later, the whale is believed to have been seen again near [[Greenwich]], possibly heading back to sea. A rescue attempt lasted several hours, but the whale died on a barge. ''See [[River Thames whale]]''.<ref name=bbcwhale>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4635874.stm |title=Lost whale dies after rescue bid |work=BBC News |access-date=22 October 2007 |date=21 January 2006 |archive-date=12 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120312121538/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4635874.stm |url-status=live}}</ref>