Swan season is here.
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.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
