See and Hear Wild Swans in Utah
Free viewing event on March 10
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 10
The Division of Wildlife Resources will host the event on March 10. Admission is free. The event will be held at two DWR waterfowl management areas: Salt Creek, west of Corinne, and Farmington Bay, west of Centerville.
Phil Douglass, regional conservation outreach manager for the DWR, says viewing runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. He says the event gives people a great chance to see and hear thousands of tundra swans, and maybe even a few of the more rarely seen trumpeter swans.
"Each year,” he says, “a handful of trumpeter swans migrate through Utah with the tundra swans. This event gives people a chance to see and hear the differences between trumpeter and tundra swans. Both of the birds are magnificent; they’re awesome to see and hear."
Douglass says spotting scopes and listening devices will be available at the sites, so you can get a close look at the swans and hear the differences in vocalizations between trumpeter and tundra swans. “If you have your own binoculars or a spotting scope, though, please bring them,” he says. “There are also numerous bird-sound apps that you can download on your phone. These apps can help you identify swans and other birds by the sounds they make.”
In addition to a thrilling viewing experience, knowledgeable and friendly people from the DWR and Wasatch Audubon will be available to answer your questions. “And, if you have a scout group that needs to talk to a conservation officer,” Douglass says, “this is the perfect place to do it.”
A preview of what you’ll see at the event is available in two videos on the DWR’s YouTube channel. You can view the swan videos at http://bit.ly/1Ap4fXE and http://bit.ly/1Js23Gb.
If you have questions about Wild Swan Day, call the DWR’s Northern Region office at 801-476-2740.
In addition to the two DWR viewing sites, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is holding a swan viewing event on March 10 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.
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. Once you reach 6800 North, the WMA’s Compton’s Knoll Watchable Wildlife site will be on your left side.
The Farmington Bay WMA is at 1325 W. Glovers Lane in Farmington. To get there, take the Clark Lane exit from I-15, and travel west on Clark Lane to 1525 West. Turn south on 1525 West, and travel two miles to Glovers Lane, then turn left, and travel a half-mile to 1325 West, which is the entrance to the WMA.
Seeing swans on your own
If you can’t attend the March 10 event, you can still see swans, but Douglass encourages you to visit the marshes soon. “Swan numbers are building right now,” he says. “By the time we hold the viewing event, the swan migration should be at its peak.”
Douglass says the Salt Creek WMA is one of the best places in Utah to get a close look at swans. It’s also a likely spot to see and hear both trumpeter and tundra swans together.
“Two years ago,” he says, “I was watching 2,500 tundra swans when, suddenly, I heard trumpeter swans. It took some time and determination, but I eventually found eight trumpeters among the tundra swans. Seeing both tundra and trumpeter swans was an amazing experience.”
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Fishing reports - available at http://wildlife.utah.gov/hotspots .
