Relentless swan attacks on corn fields
The whooper swan. Photo: Ómar Óskarsson
Corn farmers in South Iceland are reaching the end of their tether – with the huge numbers of swans and geese attacking their crops.
“I’ve had enough! It’s over!” says corn farmer Birkir Arnar Tómasson.
He and many of his fellow corn farmers have been battling the onslaught of swans and geese for many years. The situation is apparently now so bad that it is no longer worth trying to grow corn.
Hundreds, if not thousands, of hungry birds have recently been descending on Tómasson’s threshed corn, and no amount of fences or defences seem to be deter them.
Tómasson estimates that 7-8 hectares of his total of sixty have been eaten up by the unwanted invaders.
“There is no choice but to allow farmers to hunt swans – within limits – at this time of the year,” concludes Jóhann Nikulásson, another exasperated South Iceland corn famer.
“The battles is at its toughest right now. It is a full-time job just protecting the fields.”
Swans and geese attacking corn fields. Photo: Helgi Bjarnason
