Rich Rankin has been Bristol's swan keeper for the last eight years, volunteering his time with the charity Friends of Bristol Swans. Every day, come hail or shine, he checks on the swans in the harbour area and feeds them. He earns his living from running a passenger boat business and thousands of his customers enjoy looking at the birds each year so for Rich looking after the swans is his way of saying thank you. As he says: "The birds help me earn my living, they're a attraction to everyone who sees them, it would be poor show if I didn't put something back in. "At any one time there can be up to 40 swans on the river but to see the the birds at their best you'll need to get up at dawn. "Then you'll see the wonderful sight of the swans flying into the harbour and hear the wind going through their wings." Rich has lived on a houseboat for many years and having the swans wake him up in the mornings for their feed is just one more reason why he continues with this work. He's so well known now that people will bring injured swans to him. But don't expect Rich to get too sentimental because to date he hasn't named a single swans. However, he has a soft spot for a rather bossy and miserable goose which he calls Sylvester. For Richard, a flock of swans flying under Clifton Suspension Bridge beats a firework display any day and is why he'll continue to be the city's swan keeper as long as he's needed. If you would like to volunteer with Friends of Bristol Swans then call the CSV Actiondesk on 0845 900 7 95 5. | 
