Each winter, hundreds of massive white trumpeter swans migrate to Magness Lake near Heber Springs, making the area one of Arkansas’ most unique and popular wildlife viewing destinations. The swans typically arrive around Thanksgiving and remain through Valentine’s Day, offering visitors a rare chance to see North America’s largest waterfowl up close.
Magness Lake, an oxbow of the Little Red River, serves as the primary gathering spot, with additional viewing areas along Hiram Road at locations commonly known as Abram’s Ponds. Local landowners support the swans by providing cracked corn and allowing designated parking areas for visitors, often marked with signs reading “SWANS.”
Late afternoons are considered the best time to visit, as the birds return to the water before dark, though they may be seen feeding and resting throughout the day. Visitors are asked to remain in marked viewing areas, avoid trespassing, keep pets inside vehicles, and only feed cracked corn if feeding is allowed at the site.
The Heber Springs swan tradition began in the early 1990s when several trumpeter swans, part of a restored population after near extinction, were blown off course by storms and found safe winter habitat in the area. The birds returned the following year, and the winter population has continued to grow, becoming a cherished seasonal attraction for both residents and tourists across Arkansas.
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