Ogden -- Seeing and hearing just one tundra swan is enough to make your heart jump. Imagine seeing and hearing hundreds of them. You can at Tundra Swan Day.

Tundra Swan Day - March 8

The Division of Wildlife Resources will host its annual Tundra Swan Day on March 8. Admission is free. Viewing will take place at three sites -- the Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area west of Farmington, the Salt Creek WMA west of Corinne and the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge west of Brigham City.

 
Farmington Bay and Salt Creek

Viewing at the Farmington Bay and Salt Creek WMAs runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. DWR biologists and volunteer naturalists will have spotting scopes set up so  you can get a close look at the swans. They’ll also provide parabolic dishes you can use to get a crystal-clear listen to the unique sounds the swans make.

At the Farmington Bay WMA, you can also hop into a van for a “behind the gates” tour. These free tours will take you to parts of the WMA that are normally closed this time of the year.

Bear River

Viewing at the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge runs from sunrise to sunset. You can see swans from your vehicle as you drive along the refuge’s auto-tour route.  Before heading to the refuge, stop by its Wildlife Education Center at 2155 W. Forest St. in Brigham City for maps and information. The center is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. To reach the center, exit I-15 at Exit 363. After you’ve exited the freeway, turn west. The center is about one block west of the freeway.

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 on your own

If you can’t attend the March 8 event, some great opportunities are available to watch and listen to swans on your own. The Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge is one of the best. You can see hundreds of swans along the refuge’s auto tour loop. The 12-mile loop will take you across most of the refuge that’s open to the public.  The Ogden Bay WMA also provides two good spots to see and listen to swans. One of those spots is the parking area at 5500 W. in Hooper. The parking area is at the end of 5500 W., about one mile north of 4000 S. The other spot is the parking area at 7500 W. in West Warren. The parking area is at the end of 7500 W., about one mile south of 12th Street (SR-39).

The migration of swans through Utah should peak within the next three weeks. Thousands of swans will be in Utah then.