Swans in flight above San Juan Island’s Panorama Marsh | Credit: Ava Potter
For decades, the San Juan Preservation Trust has helped coordinate the San Juan Island region of Washington’s statewide annual wintering swan count. On Saturday, January 18, 2025, blue skies and frosty grounds provided the perfect backdrop as dozens of volunteers fanned out across the archipelago to count swans at various island locations.
In total, 44 volunteers were able to count 87 Trumpeter Swans in the San Juan Islands! This is consistent with the 10-year countywide average of 97 swans and more than double the number of swans from our local count last year—although not surprising considering the markedly improved weather and field conditions compared to last January. Counters on San Juan Island tallied the most swans with 71, followed by Lopez with 16. Among the swans counted, 74 were adults and 13 were juveniles.
A big thank-you to our committed corps of volunteer swan-counters for helping us collect this important information!
Ava Potter, our photo contest winner, captured swans soaring over Panorama Marsh on San Juan Island with stunning detail!
Phil Green
Val and Leslie Veirs
Kathy Finholm
David Kane
Elizabeth Gadbois
Have a swan comment or question? Feel free to email Kathleen Foley Lewis at kathleen@sjpt.org.
Want to get involved in next year’s Swan Count or another community science project? Please reach out to SJPT Education Specialist, Liz Doane.
See previous years’ results: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019,