As of today, out of season, returns ~November. Earth Exhibit tracks the live conditions and flags it the moment it is on.
Lake Mattamuskeet, a vast shallow lake on North Carolina's coastal plain, hosts the bulk of the state's wintering tundra swans alongside flocks of snow geese and a staggering diversity of ducks.
Total waterfowl numbers exceed 100,000 each winter — including roughly 25,000-35,000 tundra swans and 5,000-8,000 snow geese — drawn to the lake's open water and the refuge's flooded impoundments.
From the Highway 94 causeway that splits the lake and from the refuge's Wildlife Drive, observers can scan rafts of white swans whistling across the water and dense flocks lifting off in unison.
The birds arrive in early November and stay through late winter, building to a peak in the deep cold of December through February.
Where to see it
A taste of where to see it. The full map, exact coordinates and the best timing for each spot live in the app.
| Viewing spots |
|---|
| Highway 94 Causeway across Lake Mattamuskeet |
| Mattamuskeet NWR Wildlife Drive |
| + 1 more spot, with exact coordinates and timing, in the app → |
This is the short version
This page shows a taste. The app has the full list of where to see this, the exact timing, and live conditions for 1,000+ natural phenomena worldwide, so you know the moment one is genuinely worth the trip.