Spectacular swans: Let the gawking begin
This time of year, it's easy to spot the graceful birds feeding in farmers' fields
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JENNIFER BUCHANAN / The Herald
A swan flexes its wings before taking off at Shadow Lake.
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JENNIFER BUCHANAN / The Herald
A lone trumpeter swan lands in a field full of thousands of snow geese and other swans in the Skagit Valley in February 2007.
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JENNIFER BUCHANAN / The Herald
A single swan takes flight over an open expanse of water in Silvana.
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JENNIFER BUCHANAN / The Herald
A trumpeter swan stands in a field of freshly sprouting winter wheat in the Skagit Valley.
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Throughout Western Washington, but especially in Snohomish, Skagit and Whatcom counties, these giant white birds have arrived to feed on aquatic vegetation and grains in local fields.
“They're in all the usual places and then some,” said Everett wildlife biologist Martha Jordan with the Trumpeter Swan Society. “They're all around.”
While majestic bald eagles and rabble-rousing snow geese usually garner more attention, graceful swans also winter here from mid-December to late February.
Last year more than 8,000 trumpeter and tundra swans visited Skagit County, home to one of the largest concentrations of wintering swans in the lower 48 states.
Trumpeter swans are among the largest waterfowl in the world. They can weigh up to 25 pounds and boast wingspans up to 8 feet. Their elegant necks are as long as their bodies. They typically mate for life and can live as long as 30 years.
Their muted honks stand out from the screeches of snow geese, though the birds often share the same fields.
Finding the swans can be as simple as driving rural roads that surround farmers' fields.
Though Skagit County is a hot spot for finding swans in large numbers, Snohomish County usually hosts more than 1,000 swans, too, said Jordan, who did an aerial count of the birds earlier this month.
Swan-curious folks can also visit the Johnson Debay Swan Reserve northeast of Mount Vernon. Though there's no guarantee you'll see birds there, you'll likely see some on the way.
“Drive the roads. You will find the swans,” Jordan said. “They're going to be moving around.”
Jordan will present “White Birds of Winter,” including photos and facts about swans and other birds, from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the NW Stream Center at McCollum Park in Everett.
Advance registration and $7 admission are required. Call 425-316-8592 to sign up.
Story tags »
• Everett • Silvana • Snohomish • AnimalsThree swan spots
Fir Island Road: This rural Skagit County road offers views of swans and snow geese munching on grains in local farmers' fields. Go west off I-5 Exit 221 at Conway. Much of western Skagit County is dotted with swans. See the map with this story for the viewing area.
Johnson Debay Swan Reserve: See www.trumpeterswansociety.org for driving directions to the reserve, a 300-acre state Department of Fish and Wildlife site with sloughs, seasonal ponds, wetlands and cornfields northeast of Mount Vernon. Visit just before dusk to see the most birds.
Bob Heirman Wildlife Preserve: Swans frequently stop at this Snohomish County park at 14913 Connelly Road, south of Snohomish near Shadow Lake. Learn more at tinyurl.com/HeirmanPreserve.
Viewing tips
Stay in your car: Trumpeter and tundra swans can be harmed by constant disturbances during the critical survival months of winter and spring. Your car is one of the best bird blinds around. Simply roll down your window or quietly open your door for an unobstructed view.
If you want to get out of your car, park about 50 yards up the road from the best viewpoint and look back at the birds. They will feel less threatened and won't walk or fly away. Move slowly and gently and stay within touching distance of your vehicle to keep your presence minimal. If birds start walking away, even 15 minutes after you've arrived, you have disturbed them.
Leave birds alone: Forcing birds into flight while they are resting or feeding is harmful to their long-term health. It needlessly uses energy and time, costing them the calories and fat they're trying to store up for their flights north to Canada and Alaska for breeding.
Use binoculars, spotting scopes and telephoto lenses to get a closer look.
Pull completely off the road. Do not block lanes of traffic. It is dangerous as well as illegal. Obey no-parking signs or risk a ticket.
Respect private property: If you walk on private farmland without permission, even if there are thousands of birds visiting, you could be accused of trespassing.
The Washington Swan Working Group, a local branch of the Trumpeter Swan Society
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