See hundreds of tundra swans

OGDEN — Hundreds of pure white tundra swans are migrating through northern Utah right now. You can both see and listen to them at the Seventh Annual Tundra Swan Day.

Tundra Swan Day is March 10

The Division of Wildlife Resources will host its annual Tundra Swan Day on March 10. Viewing will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area (WMA) west of Farmington and the Salt Creek WMA west of Corinne.

Changing spring weather can mean seeing swans loafing on the ice or winging their way across the sky.

Photo by Phil Douglass

DWR biologists and volunteer naturalists will provide spotting scopes and parabolic dishes that you can use to both see and listen to the swans.

Admission is free.

Van tours

At the Farmington Bay WMA, naturalists will also conduct "behind the gates" van tours. These tours are for anyone who would like to visit parts of the WMA that are normally closed this time of the year.

The van tours are free.

Swan activities

The Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge will offer some special Swan Day activities at its Wildlife Education Center at 2155 W. Forest St. in Brigham City.

To reach the center, exit I-15 at Exit 363. After exiting the freeway, turn west and travel one block to the center.

At 10:30 a.m., artist Jean Hawrylo will teach kids how to draw a swan. The drawing class is limited to the first 15 kids, ages nine to 12. There is no cost to participate. You can register your child for the class by calling (435) 723-5887.

At 1 p.m., an activity for the whole family will be held as the center shows the movie "The Trumpet of the Swan." This full-length, animated movie runs for 75 minutes and is free of charge to view.

For more information about Tundra Swan Day, call the DWR's Northern Region office at (801) 476-2740 or the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge at (435) 723-5887.

Watching and listening to swans on your own

If you can't attend the March 10 event, great opportunities are available to watch and listen to swans on your own.

One of the best viewing opportunities is at the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, where you can view swans from your car as you drive along the refuge's 12-mile auto tour loop.

Phil Douglass, DWR Northern Region conservation outreach manager, says he saw large numbers of swans feeding at the Ogden Bay WMA on

Feb. 20. He also says that students touring the Farmington Bay WMA on Feb. 21 were thrilled to see and hear tundra swans at the WMA that day.

In addition to the Swan Day locations, he says the Ogden Bay WMA parking area at 5500 W. in Hooper (on the dead end just north of 4000 S.), and the parking area at 7500 W. in West Warren (about one mile south of SR-39 [also known as 12th Street]), are two great places to listen to the "swan song" this spring.

Douglass says the swan migration will peak within the next three weeks.