Echoes of the Willow

The Swan Census and the Art of Showing Up

By Michelle Allen

Every July, a small crew in England sets out to count swans. Not for science. Not for sport. But because tradition says the monarch owns them—and someone has to keep track.

It’s called Swan Upping. It’s slow. It’s ceremonial. It’s deeply uninteresting.

And yet, I love it.

Because in a world that moves fast, there’s something beautiful about showing up for the quiet rituals. The ones that don’t make headlines. The ones that say, “This matters, even if no one’s watching.”

I think about my own version of Swan Upping—hosting parties, tracking RSVPs, adjusting prize tiers, sending thank-you notes. It’s not glamorous. But it’s how I honor connection. It’s how I build legacy.

So here’s to the swan counters. And the party planners. And everyone who shows up for the small stuff.

Because sometimes, the quietest traditions are the ones that hold us together.

Oddee, Britain’s Annual Royal Swan Census is Counting the King’s Birds, 2025, https://www.oddee.com/britains-annual-royal-swan-census-is-counting-the-kings-birds-75754/

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