Ed Swan was a special individual who not only had a passion for birding but had the unique gift of helping others learn about birds and habitat, and how to document using community science. He taught birding classes and led field trips for Audubon chapters for three decades. This fall, Ed taught his Advancing Your Birding course at Rainier Audubon. Tragically, we lost Ed to heart attack Friday, October 28 in the prime of his life, while he was doing what he loved most, birding at one of his favorite places.

A Celebration of Life will be held in Ed’s honor at the Vashon United Methodist Church (vashonmethodist.org) at 2 PM on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022. In special remembrance of Ed, who donned a bird T-shirt every day, consider wearing a bird T- shirt if you have one.

Questions? Please contact Vashon Audubon’s Sue Trevathan at mstrev30@gmail.com

Sue Trevathan, of Vashon Audubon, wrote this tribute:
“There are some who bring a light so great to the world that even after they have gone, the light remains.”

Ed’s knowledge of birds was legendary, yet he remained modest and humble. When he and his wife, Linda Barnes, moved to Vashon in 2000, his reputation as a master birder preceded him. Instead of waiting to be asked, he showed up at every opportunity to support Vashon Audubon and was always willing to share his vast knowledge about birds in a way that fueled one’s curiosity to learn more. He served as Vashon Audubon president for many years and managed the Christmas
Bird Count.

Ed was meticulous in his record-keeping, noting for many years the arrival and departure dates for migratory and rare birds on the island. This effort culminated in his essential book, The Birds of Vashon Island: A Natural History of Habitat and Population Transformation. After Ed and Linda moved to West Seattle in 2015, he resurrected Washington Birds, the journal of the Washington Ornithological Society, after many years of dormancy.

He was always seeking better ways to teach birding techniques, and he developed a unique, systemic method for improving birdwatching skills that he taught to eager participants through Vashon Audubon, Tahoma Audubon, Rainier Audubon, and North Cascades Audubon. He led countless birding trips all over Puget Sound and offered backyard consultations on how to attract birds and other wildlife.

As I look out my window and see my first Varied Thrush of the season, I think about the gifts Ed left for us and my hope that we can make a difference in the lives of birds, even if it’s just in our own backyards.
–Sue Trevathan

For more information, visit the Vashon Audubon website, Tribute to Ed Swan – Vashon
Audubon