A Celebration of Swans

2024 is the 30th anniversary of A Celebration of Swans, the Yukon’s premier birding festival held annually during the month of April. Visit the Swan Haven Interpretive Centre to welcome spring and witness the mass migration of thousands of swans, ducks and geese.

The Swan Haven Interpretive Centre is closed, however there are two final events taking place over the weekend. 

The bird situation at Swan Haven, 2024

Bye bye swans! Hello duck haven. In our final tally of 2024, there were 266 swans and more than 2,000 ducks – notably Northern Pintail, Green winged Teal and American Wigeon. Shorebirds have also started showing up, including Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs. For the most up-to-date numbers, go to Ebird.org.

Festival poster

Every year a collectible poster is produced featuring an art piece that celebrates spring. Hundreds of these posters are distributed to communities across the Yukon.

Learn how to get a free copy of the poster.

Swan Haven Interpretive Centre

The Swan Haven Interpretive Centre is located at 58 Swan Haven Drive, Marsh Lake, in the North M'Clintock Bay subdivison.

The Swan Haven Interpretive Centre sits on the shore of M’Clintock Bay in Marsh Lake, where there is open water in early spring that waterbirds rely on to feed, rest and stay safe. The centre has inside exhibits about bird migration and a shoreline trail to view (and hear) thousands of migrating swans, ducks and geese.

2024 hours of operation — facilities closed for construction

The Swan Haven Interpretive Centre is now closed for the season. Starting May 6, the outside grounds including the viewing deck and stairway access to the lakeshore trail, will be closed for construction. Crews are stabilizing the bank and building a new set of stairs and viewing deck. During construction there will be no access to the lake through Swan Haven. 

Questions about the project? Email wildlife.viewing@yukon.ca.  

Visitor Survey

Have you visited Swan Haven this year, or in the past? Are you unable to join us this year? Please tell us why so we can plan great programs in the future. 

Complete this short survey to tell us about your visit to Swan Haven or why you can't make it out. 

Surveys results are completely annonymous and will be used to help plan events. 

Facilities

There is no waste disposal at Swan Haven so please pack out everything you bring with you.

Bring your own drinking water; there is no running water on site.

Amenities:

• Heated two-storey building. The first floor is accessible via a boardwalk and ramp.
• Outhouses (including one that is wheelchair accessible).
• Viewing decks.
• Shoreline walking trail (approximately 1 km return); accessed via a set of stairs.
• Indoor and outdoor interpretive exhibits.

There is no running water on site.

What to bring

• Warm clothing and layers (temperatures vary widely in April).
• Comfortable boots (expect snow, mud and ice).
• Sunglasses, sun screen and a hat (the glare off the ice is strong).
• Drinking water and snacks.

School visits

School programs have always been a large part of spring activities at Swan Haven. Hundreds of school children make the trip with their classes to participate in hands-on activities and games, in a spectacular outdoor classroom. 

These popular programs are available for Grades 2, 3 and 5 throughout April. These programs are provided in partnership with the Yukon Wildlife Preserve. Teachers and administrators, please visit their program page for details and teacher resources. Contact education@yukonwildlife.ca to book a visit.

Student art contest

Wildlife-themed art submissions (in any format) is displayed at the Swan Haven Interpretive Centre. Winners will receive great prizes and their art will be displayed at the Whitehorse Public Library in May.

Events

Saturday, May 4

Shorebird walk

At a certain point in spring, we say goodbye to the migrating swans and hello to shorebirds including sandpipers, snipes, yellowlegs and godwits. Birding expert Jukka Jantunen will sort it all out during a short walk and talk. Rubber boots are highly recommended.

Time: 10 am to noon.

Location: Swan Haven. 

Sunday, May 5

Dagay (swan) walk (Burwash Landing)

Bring your lunch to Kluane and enjoy a guided walk with Diyet, who grew up on the ancestral lands of the Kluane First Nation. Learn about the dagay (swans) of Jèdàlį (head of the river) and enjoy a cup of hot tea and bannock at the end of the day. Warm layers and rubber boots are strongly recommended. Registration is required so we can share additional information related to this event. If travelling from Whitehorse this is a long day but worth the trip to say goodbye to the swans for another season.

Time: 12 to 4 pm

Burwash Landing is approximately three hours from Whitehorse/one hour from Haines Junction. Meet at the Kluane Museum of History. From there, we’ll carpool to an area nearby.

This event is free but registration is required so we can share information leading up to it. Audiences of all ages are invited to participate. Involves walking about 3 km down an old dirt road and along the mudflats, with minimal elevation change. 

Registration opens April 28 at noon. Register for this event.