Ogden -- Wild swans are winging their way through Utah.
Both tundra swans and trumpeter swans, which are more rarely seen, stop in Utah's wetlands for critically needed rest and refueling during their annual spring migration. The migration takes the swans from wintering grounds in California to nesting sites in Canada and Alaska.
You can see the birds, and learn more about them, at this year’s Wild Swan Day.
Wild Swan Day – March 9
The Division of Wildlife Resources will host the event on March 9. Admission is free. The event will be held at two DWR waterfowl management areas: Salt Creek, southwest of Tremonton, and Farmington Bay, southwest of Farmington.
Mark Hadley, regional conservation outreach manager for the DWR, says viewing runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. If you attend the event, you’ll likely see and hear thousands of tundra swans and maybe even a few of the more rarely seen trumpeter swans.
"If you’ve never seen swans in the wild before,” he says, “you need to come to the event. Swans are gorgeous, graceful birds. And you’ll have no problem spotting them: they’re huge and almost pure white in color.”
Hadley says spotting scopes will be available so you can get a close look at the swans. “If you have your own binoculars or a spotting scope, though, please bring them with you,” he says. “DWR staff and volunteers from Wasatch Audubon will be available to answer your questions.”
In addition to seeing and hearing swans, if you attend the event at Farmington Bay, you can learn more about the birds at presentations at the Eccles Wildlife Education Center, 1157 South Waterfowl Way. The 30-minute presentations—which talk about where the swans came from, why they stop in Utah and where they’re going—will be offered at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. You can also take your kids into the center’s Wetlands Discovery classroom, where they can make their own paper swan.
In addition to the two DWR viewing sites, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is holding a swan viewing event on March 9 at the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. The refuge is west of Brigham City. To learn more about the event, visit www.fws.gov/refuge/bear_river_migratory_bird_refuge.
A preview of what you’ll see at Wild Swan Day is available in two videos on the DWR’s YouTube channel. You can view the swan videos at http://bit.ly/1Ap4fXEand http://bit.ly/1Js23Gb.
Locations
Viewing at the Salt Creek WMA will happen at Compton’s Knoll, a small hill on the northeast side of the WMA. From the knoll, you can scan the entire marsh.
At the Farmington Bay WMA, managers will scout the area and then set spotting scopes up at the best location to see swans.
If you have questions about Wild Swan Day, call the DWR’s Northern Region office at 801-476-2740.
Directions
To reach the Compton’s Knoll viewing area at the Salt Creek WMA, exit Interstate 15 at Exit 365, and travel west on state Route 83 through Corinne. Stay on SR-83 until you get to 6800 West (Iowa String). Turn right on 6800 West, and travel north to 6800 North. Turn left on 6800 North, and travel west for about 3.5 miles. The Compton’s Knoll Watchable Wildlife site will be on your left side.
The Farmington Bay WMA is at 1325 W. Glovers Lane in Farmington.
Seeing swans on your own
If you can’t attend the March 9 event, swans should stay in Utah through most of March. Compton’s Knoll at the Salt Creek WMA is always a great place to see swans. The 12-mile auto tour route at the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge is also a good choice.
Contact: Mark Hadley, DWR Northern Region Conservation Outreach Manager, 801-556-8686