Swan Lake, just north of Vernon, is a shallow, reedy lake that is one of the best birdwatching sites in the Okanagan. The lake and its surrounding wetlands attract over 200 species of birds through the year, with particularly good numbers during spring and autumn migration. Great blue herons, white pelicans, ospreys, and various duck species are common in summer; tundra swans and other migrants pass through in spring.
The Vernon chapter of the BC Naturalists runs a nature centre at the south end of the lake with information on what to look for. A trail loops around part of the lake edge. There is no fee. Early mornings in May and June are the best time, when the light is soft and the birds most active. The lake is surrounded by farmland and the trail can be muddy in spring.