A Celebration of Swans

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.

The swan situation

A summary of sightings, counts and new bird arrivals. For a complete list of daily bird observations in April, visit eBird.

Sunday, May 1 at Swan Haven

• 54 Trumpeter Swan
• 57 Tundra Swan
• 164 Canada Goose
• 4 Greater White-fronted Goose
• 643 Mallard
• 1220 Northern Pintail
• 180 Green-winged Teal
• 198 American Wigeon
• 40 Bufflehead
• 100 Common Goldeneye
• 40 Barrow's Goldeneye
• 200 Herring Gull
• 2 Northern Harrier
• 1 American Robin
• 200 American Pipit

Swan Haven Interpretive Centre

The centre is now closed for the season. You are welcome to visit the outdoor grounds, year-round.

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. 

Amenities

• 1 wheelchair-accessible outhouse/pit toilet.
• 1 non-accesible outhouse/pit toilet.
• Viewing deck.
• Interpretive exhibits, outdoors.

There is no waste disposal, so remember to pack it in and pack it out.

Festival poster

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

Information on the 2022 poster is now available here.

Events

Saturday, May 14 — Shorebirds of Swan Haven

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.

Time: 10 am to 11:30 am

Location: Swan Haven Interpretive Centre, Marsh Lake

Cost: Free

Sunday, May 15 — Dagay (swan) walk 

Bring your lunch to Kluane and enjoy a guided walk with an Elder from Kluane First Nation. Learn about the Dagay (swans) of Jedalį. Warm layers and rubber boots are a must! Contact us to learn more about this remote, day-long adventure. 

Time: 12 pm to 4 pm

Location: Meet at Kluane Museum of History, Burwash Landing

Cost: Free

Thursday, May 18 — Frog walk (new date!)

It's breeding season for Wood Frogs! We'll walk to Paddy's Pond from the Hillcrest neighborhood, and discuss the fascinating adaptions of this northern amphibian.

Registration is mandatory on Eventbrite. The meeting location will be sent to registered participants.

A 2-kilometre walk over soft, wet ground. Rubber boots strongly recommended.

Time: 7 pm to 8:30 pm

Location: Paddy's Pond, Whitehorse

Cost: Free

Student art contest

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