Skagit Valley day trip - migrating waterfowl

Photos and text by Wayne Pridemore

Now is a great time to visit Skagit Valley to view the migrating waterfowl. The adult Tundra Swans are pure white while the juveniles are mainly a light shade of gray. The waterfowls numbers will usually diminish by middle February.

For more information: Skagit Valley Bird Watching

Bird Lady Christine Southwick adds:

Tundra Swans and Snow Geese over-winter here in one of the largest migration sites in the US.
If you go to view these magnificent and easily-seen birds, be respectful of private property. If it doesn't say Public property, then it is private, and no one should enter unless given specific permission. This is one of the area's landholders pet-peeves and has resulted in some land NOT being planted/left fallow for the wintering birds. Also, pull over to the side of the roads, or find a pull-out and walk back (using the road shoulders). One more tidbit: crowding the swans and geese and causing them to fly wastes valuable energy, and could result in diminished survival. Enjoy--these birds are big enough that they can be seen without binoculars.