The snows are melting and the waterways are opening up. The spring migration
north is well underway in NE Washington.
The Tundra Swan Festival in Cusick was a great way to see them.

Anyone who wants to see tens of thousands of Tundra Swans, Canada geese,
diving and dabbling ducks of many species needs to go to this area in the
next 2 weeks.
Calispell Lake is located near Cusick, north of Newport, WA.
The sounds of so many Tundra Swans gathered in one place echos across the
large marshy area.
Sighted were:
Tundra Swans, Canada Goose, Canvasbacks, Redheads, Mallards, American
Wigeon, Pintail, Wood Ducks (standing on the ice in pairs), Ring-necked
Ducks, Bufflehead, Coots, wild Turkeys, RHd-tailed hawk, Bald Eagle,
American Robin, and a muskrat. Moose and deer tracks were seen but not the
animal.
White-tailed deer are in migration and can be found along the roads in
the dusk times.

Directions: Travel north out of Spokane on US 2 to Newport, WA. Then take
SR20 north towards Cusick.
Turn LEFT on West Calispell Lake Road off SR20 or SR211 (they are close
together at this point). Follow this road and it will take you around the
west side of the lake.
As you cross the bridge on the north side of the lake (a great place to
bird) look for where main road will bend to the left, to the right is a good
dirt road - Bennett. Turn Right on Bennett and follow this around the east
side of the lake (great birding here) and it takes you back to West
Calispell Road - turn left and go back to SR20.

You may also want to go on McKenzie Road east of SR20 and cross the bridge
at the town of Cusick. Look down river-- great blue herons congregate along
the shoreline here.
And there are lots of other places to bird in this area even at this time of
year. The Bobolink come along just a bit later.

The photography opportunities are huge, especially for those with good
cameras and lenses.

And please remember: there are collared swans to be seen out there. If you
get the numbers please let me know.

Enjoy.

Martha Jordan
The Trumpeter Swan Society
425-787-0258
cell 206-713-3684
914 - 164th Street SE
PMB 272
Mill Creek, WA 98012