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Celebration of Swans

Festival dates: April 18 - 26, 2009

Swan Haven Interpretation Centre will be open April 1 - 30, 2009

Biologist Interpreter on staff to answer questions and help with viewing

Who's at M'Clintock Bay now?

NEW! Yukon Energy Swan Cam (April 1 until mid-May)

The sounds of spring in the Yukon...

Celebration of Swans Image 2008 - Watercolour by Stephanie Ryan


The Celebration of Swans

Yukon's premiere bird festival brings residents and visitors alike out to great swan viewing areas to welcome spring to the north, arriving on the wings of the Trumpeter Swans. Taking place during the third week of April each year, Celebration of Swans events (2008, PDF 1.4 MB) include area birding tours, the family activity weekend, bird identification and photography workshops, art exhibits, storytelling, guest speakers from different parts of the swans' flyway, contests, and good, peaceful swan watching opportunities around southern Yukon. Keep an eye our for the 'swan flyer' schedule of events in your mailbox early April.

At Swan Haven, join a viewing walk with interpreters and find out how the migration is unfolding, learn to watercolour or photograph, or relax on a viewing deck. Inside you'll find interpretive displays and information about the birds found here in the spring. Don't forget to vote for your favorite piece of children's art!

Each community with spring swan areas nearby hosts events to celebrate their return. Take in storytelling in Tagish, or attend workshops and presentations about swans, wetlands and other spring birds in Whitehorse. Go for a swan viewing walk at the end of Kluane Lake, near Burwash Landing. See how Yukon artists relate with wildlife at the Marsh Lake Community Centre. You can also pick up this year's swan poster at locations around Yukon.

Over this 9-day period visitors flock to the bay, making the Celebration of Swans the largest birding event in Yukon. Approximately 10% of Yukoners make their way to Marsh Lake each year to see this spring spectacle.

School programs have always been a large part of spring activities out at Swan Haven. Hundreds of school children make the trip with their classes to participate in activities and games interpreters put on for them, to give them some hands-on learning in a spectacular outdoor classroom. Each year interpreters receive school groups between grades 2 and 6, and a child visiting year after year learns something new each time.

To find out more about Swan Haven Interpretation Centre, swan data and how to book a visit with your class our public group, click here or contact the Wildlife Viewing Program.

Calling all artists and art lovers...

Each year a call for submissions is sent out for the Celebration of Swans collectable poster image and the wildlife art exhibit at Marsh Lake. The winning poster artist will receive broad promotion of their work through this web page, the poster and events pamphlet distribution, 20 personal copies and an optional private guided tour of Swan Haven.

Poster art image submission deadline was February 6th, 2008.

Exhibit proposal submission deadline is March 28th, 2008.

To find out how to submit your artwork, view the following pdfs:

Call for Submissions: Celebration of Swans Image 2008 (54 KB) and

Call for Submissions: Community Wildlife Art Exhibit (34 KB).

Thank you to these phantastic photographers and awesome artists!

2001 Poster (PDF 0.2 MB) - Jim Hawkings, Canadian Wildlife Service

2002 Poster (PDF 1.8 MB) - Cathie Archbould - www.archbould.com

2003 Poster (PDF 0.3 MB) - Fritz Mueller - www.fritzmueller.com

2004 Poster (PDF 150KB) - Robin Armour - Yukon Government

2005 Poster (PDF 0.2 MB) - Shane Wilson - www.shanewilson.com

2006 Poster (PDF 154 KB) - Mark Preston

2007 Poster (PDF 810 KB) - Dr. Ken Quong

2008 Poster (PDF 1.5 MB) - Stephanie Ryan

See how Yukon artists relate with wildlife at the Marsh Lake Community Centre. You can also pick up this year's swan poster at locations around Yukon.

For more information, contact:

Wildlife Viewing Program
Environment Yukon, V-5A
Phone: (867) 667-8291
Toll free (in Yukon) 1-800-661-0408, ext. 8291
Fax: (867) 393-6263
Email: wildlife.viewing@gov.yk.ca


or


Link to the Trumpeter Swan Society website for swan information across North America.

We would like to thank the Trumpeter Swan Society for the Trumpeter and Tundra Swan Audio clips at the top of the page.

See you at Swan Haven!

 

The Swan
by Mary Oliver

Did you too see it, drifting, all night, on the black river?
Did you see it in the morning, rising into the silvery air -
an armful of white blossoms,
A perfect commotion of silk and linen as it leaned
into the bondage of its wings; a snowbank, a bank of lilies,
Biting the air with its black beak?
Did you hear it, fluting and whistling
A shrill dark music - like the rain pelting the trees
Like a waterfall knifing down the black ledges?
And did you see it, finally, just under the clouds -
A white cross streaming across the sky, its feet
Like black leaves, its wings like the stretching light of the river?
And did you feel it, in your heart, how it pertained to everything?
And have you too finally figured out what beauty is for?
And have you changed your life?
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