A Celebration of Swans
The Yukon's premier birding festival brings residents and visitors alike out to great swan viewing areas to welcome spring to the North. The mass migration of tens of thousands of swans, ducks, and geese is not to be missed.
Scroll down this page to see festival event listings.
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.
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. The Yukon Wildlife Preserve delivers Swan Haven School Programs on behalf of the Wildlife Viewing Program.
Student art contest
Wildlife-themed art submissions will be displayed at the Swan Haven Interpretive Centre during April. Winners receive great prizes and their art will be displayed at the Whitehorse Public Library during May.
- Open to Yukon students, grades 2 to 6
- Any art medium accepted
- Submission deadline: March 29, 2023 (late submissions accepted)
Submit to:
Government of Yukon
10 Burns Road, Box 2703 (V-5R)
Whitehorse, YT Y1A 2C6
Swan Haven Interpretive Centre
The centre will be open daily, April 1 to 30, 2023.
Hours of operation
Monday to Friday: 5 to 8 pm
Saturday, Sunday and holidays*: 10 am to 5 pm
* April 7 and 10 are holidays.
Location
The Swan Haven Interpretive Centre is located at 58 Swan Haven Drive, Marsh Lake, in the North M'Clintock Bay subdivision.
Free parking is available at the centre. and nextdoor at 62 Swan Haven Drive (McClintock Bay Adventures).
Amenities
- Heated interpretive centre with interactive exhibits and staff.
- 1 wheelchair-accessible outhouse/pit toilet.
- 1 non-accessible outhouse/pit toilet.
- Viewing decks.
- Interpretive exhibits, outdoors.
There is no waste disposal, so remember to pack it in and pack it out.
There is no running water on site.
McClintock Bay Adventures operates a convenience store with hot and cold drinks and some food items for purchase. Open daily in April, 9 am to 6 pm.
The swan situation, March 22
26 – Trumpeter Swans
For a complete list of daily bird observations in April, visit eBird.
Events
Spring birds of Swan Haven
Enjoy a presentation by expert birder and photographer, Jukka Jantunen. He will share identification and viewing tips for common spring birds at Swan Haven and around the Southern Lakes.
Please register in advance so we can plan appropriately.
Date: Wednesday, April 5
Time: 7 to 8:30 pm
Location: Yukon University, Whitehorse. Room A2206.
Cost: Free
Bat house building workshop ($)
Learn about the biology and conservation of these small, flying mosquito-eaters, how bat houses are helpful, and where to place your bat house. Yukonstruct woodworkers will help you assemble your bat house. Wear old clothes that can get stained.
Advance registration is required (opens April 1, 2023).
Date: Wednesday, April 12
Time: 6 to 9 pm
Location: 2180-2nd Avenue, Whitehorse (Northlight Innovation)
Cost: To be determined (check back for cost and registration details)
New Yukoner Day
New to the territory? Come to Swan Haven to experience one of nature’s outstanding spectacles: mass bird migration. Join us for a guided walk along the shoreline trail to learn why so many birds gather in this place. All Yukoners and visitors – new and old – are welcome!
There is also a free shuttle – the Swan Bus! See separate listing for details and mandatory advance registration for Swan Bus #1.
Date: Saturday, April 15
Time: Guided walks start at 2 pm and 3 pm
Location: Swan Haven Interpretive Centre, Marsh Lake
Cost: Free
Swan Bus #1
This free shuttle will take you from downtown Whitehorse to Swan Haven, and back again. Enjoy an afternoon at Marsh Lake during spring swan migration. Registration is mandatory and space is limited.
Advance registration is required (opens April 7, 2023).
Date: Saturday, April 15
Time: 1 pm departs Whitehorse; 4 pm departs Swan Haven
Location: Downtown Whitehorse (exact location provided during registration but it is accessible by city transit)
Cost: Free
Bird origami
Friendly guides will help you fold your way to beautiful, origami creations. Hosted by the Japanese Canadian Association of Yukon.
Date: Sunday, April 16
Time: 1 to 3 pm (drop in)
Location: Swan Haven Interpretive Centre, Marsh Lake
Cost: Free
Bird nest box building workshop ($)
Help our feathered friends by building them a home. The skilled folks at Yukonstruct will guide you through the assembly of your very own nesting box for small birds such as chickadees and nuthatches. Little builders are most welcome, but each child or youth must have an adult helper.
Advance registration is required (opens April 10, 2023).
Date: Tuesday, April 18
Time: 6 pm, 7 pm, and 8 pm (three sessions, 1-hour each)
Location: 2180-2nd Avenue, Whitehorse (Northlight Innovation)
Cost: To be determined (check back for cost and registration details)
Family Weekend
The whole family is welcome to attend an afternoon of swan watching and fun activities. We'll have games, crafts, a guided scope station and more! Bring your own lunch or check out the lunch menu and baked goods at our next-door neighbours, McClintock Bay Adventures.
There is also a free shuttle each day – the Swan Bus! (See separate listing for details and mandatory advance registration for Swan Bus #2 and Swan Bus #3).
Date: Saturday and Sunday, April 22 and 23
Time: 12 to 3:30 pm (each day)
Location: Swan Haven Interpretive Centre, Marsh Lake
Cost: Free (food for purchase from McClintock Bay Adventures)
Swan Bus #2
This free shuttle will take you from downtown Whitehorse to Swan Haven, and back again. Enjoy an afternoon at Marsh Lake during spring swan migration. Registration is mandatory and space is limited.
Advance registration is required (opens April 14, 2023).
Date: Saturday, April 22
Time: 1 pm departs Whitehorse; 4 pm departs Swan Haven
Location: Downtown Whitehorse (exact location provided during registration but it is accessible by City Transit)
Cost: Free
Swan Bus #3
This free shuttle will take you from downtown Whitehorse to Swan Haven, and back again. Enjoy an afternoon at Marsh Lake during spring swan migration. Registration is mandatory and space is limited.
Advance registration is required (opens April 14, 2023).
Date: Sunday, April 23
Time: 1 pm departs Whitehorse; 4 pm departs Swan Haven
Location: Downtown Whitehorse (exact location provided during registration but it is accessible by City Transit)
Cost: Free
Seniors tea
The Marsh Lake Community Society invites you to enjoy tea, coffee, sandwiches, homemade goodies, and peaceful swan viewing. Seniors and Elders are warmly welcomed.
Date: Wednesday, April 26
Time: 1 to 4 pm (drop in)
Location: Swan Haven Interpretive Centre, Marsh Lake
Cost: Free
Brownie Mountain hike
This short but steep hike is also known as M’Clintock West Ridge. We’ll get an elevated view of Swan Haven and M’Clintock Bay in the lovely, evening light. Requires hiking 2 kilometres over very steep, uneven terrain. Review trail and parking description at Yukonhiking.ca.
Advance registration is required (opens April 1, 2023).
Date: Tuesday, April 25
Time: 6:30 to 9 pm
Location: Marsh Lake
Cost: Free
Bird Banding 101
Come learn all about Yukon’s bird-banding stations from the experts themselves. Weather-permitting, members of the Society of Yukon Bird Observatories will demonstrate banding techniques and talk about bird banding in the Yukon.
Date: Saturday, April 29
Time: 1 to 2:30 pm
Location: Swan Haven Interpretive Centre, Marsh Lake
Cost: Free
Bike shuttle to/from Swan Haven
Dust off the road bike and start out your training with a ride to Swan Haven. It’s 45 kilometres from town, so if you’d like a one-way trip, take our one-way bike shuttle! You can either bike to Swan Haven and shuttle back, or shuttle to Swan Haven and bike back.
This is not a group ride or event and the ride portion is not supported in any way.
Advance registration is required if you’d a spot on the shuttle (opens April 21, 2023). Links below.
Date: Sunday, April 30
Shuttle times:
Location: Downtown Whitehorse (exact location provided during registration)
Cost: Free
Dagay – swan walk
Bring your lunch to Kluane and enjoy a guided walk with Elder, Gùdia – Mary Jane Johnson. Learn about the dagay – swans of Jedali and enjoy a cup of hot tea and bannock at the end of the day. Warm layers and rubber boots are a must!
Please register in advance so we can plan appropriately and share additional information about this remote, day-long event.
Date: Saturday, May 13
Time: 12 noon to 4 pm
Location: Burwash Landing. Meet at the Kluane Museum of History.
Cost: Free
Shorebird walk
Move over swans, it’s shorebird time! The shores of Swan Haven boast much more than swans and ducks. Sandpipers and snipes, yellowlegs and godwits, birder Jukka Jantunen will sort it all out during a short walk and talk. Rubber boots are recommended.
Please register in advance so we can plan appropriately (opens May 1, 2023).
Date: Sunday, May 14
Time: 10 to 11:30 am
Location: Swan Haven Interpretive Centre, Marsh Lake
Cost: Free
Watercolours workshop
Would you like to try painting landscapes? Local artist Daphne Mennell will guide you through watercolour techniques as you create your own painting. Materials will be provided. No experience is required. Please arrive at the start time to receive necessary instructions.
Please register in advance so we can plan appropriately (opens May 1, 2023).
Date: Sunday, May 14
Time: 1 to 3 pm
Location: Swan Haven Interpretive Centre, Marsh Lake
Cost: Free
For questions about A Celebration of Swans and wildlife viewing events, email wildlife.viewing@yukon.ca or phone: 867-667-8291 or toll free in Yukon: 1-800-661-0408, ext. 8291.