12th century UK tradition of 'swan upping' creating a flap A team of men wearing feathered caps and rowing up the river Thames in search of the Queen's swans could be a scene from the history books, but the tradition of 'swan upping' is very much alive and well in Britain. For five days the Queen's Swan Marker travels along the river examining and marking swans for conservation purposes, in a tradition dating back to the 12th century originally carried out by noble families claiming ownership of the birds. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES.