I could hear them before I could see them; I knew I was in the right place and that there was a good reason that they were called trumpeter swans. The large flock on Shadow Lake at the Bob Heirman Wildlife Park in Snohomish made a cacophony that announced themselves to anyone nearby.
The swans migrate south to Washington State for the winter, coming from Alaska and northern British Columbia, arriving in late October or early November and departing in April to return north. ((Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife))
They’re impressive birds with their black bills and white faces and are the heaviest of flying birds — large males can get up to 25 lbs or so and up to six feet in length ((According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology)).
I was determined to see and photograph some trumpeter swans at least once this winter before they depart for their northerly climes. Here’s what I found about local sites to view trumpeter swans and where I found some local populations of the birds.
When to View Trumpeter Swans in the Pacific Northwest
As mentioned above, you’ll find trumpeter swans in northwest Washington State through the winter. However, as is often true in birding, the early bird gets the…swan?
Both the population I spotted at a local farm in Sequim, and the flock in Snohomish were there in the morning but were starting to fly away around 8:30 AM, going off to roost for the day. Be prepared to rise early to see them and to do some waiting around for their departure.
However, watching them take off is worth the wait! The swans need at least 100 meters of space to be able to take off ((Again, from the Cornell Lab website page on swans.)) and watching them “running” across the water to take flight is fun — if you like watching birds.
Where to See Them
While I’m sure the swans appear in plenty of places around NW Washington that I have yet to mention, the locations below are some of the most frequent spots for trumpeter swan viewing.
The map below is a static image, you can click it or here to view the interactive map page with the locations. If you know of a location, you can add one if you register and log in.
Skagit Valley
A favorite spot for viewing all sorts of birds, I, unfortunately, have not made it to the Skagit Valley this winter. You might find the swans around the Fir Island or Wiley Slough areas.
Whatcom County
Large populations of trumpeter swans overwinter in Whatcom County (near Bellingham) in various ponds and fields around the area.
Bob Heirman Wildlife Park in Snohomish
This short hike in Snohomish was my favorite location for viewing swans this winter. A small footpath takes you down to the lake, where you can see the swans off as they leave for the morning, propelling themselves along the water with their webbed feet, flying into the wind, and then making a U-turn—on a clear morning, seeing them fly away with mountains as a backdrop is a beautiful sight.
The swans mostly stay on the opposite side of Shadow Lake from the small clearing you can get to from the footpath. There isn’t a trail around the lake, so bring your binoculars or a long camera lens. A fellow bird watcher told me that the other side of the lake is where the swans always are. Perhaps the birds have become habituated to where people usually stand, so they always shy away from that area. Swans can be sensitive and nervous around humans — as always, be quiet and respectful of the birds you’re watching or photographic and of their habitat.
Sequim
Bird counters have also noted populations in Sequim. On a recent visit, I found some when one flew across the road in front of my car off Port Williams road. Pulling over to the roadside, I saw a large flock in the distance in a private farm field, where they seemed content to stay.
Chimacum
I’ve read that there’s a small flock near Short’s Family Farm in Chimacum. I was in Chimacum once this winter and took an early morning detour down Center Road, but I didn’t find any swans. However, it was a cold, wet morning, possibly not a problem for the swans, but it was for this human on that particular morning.
