Edward Swan II

1962 - 2022

Edward Swan II
November 15, 1962 - October 28, 2022
Seattle, Washington - Edward Whitefield Swan II was born on Nov. 15, 1962, in Olympia, Washington, to Shirley (Van Buskirk) Swan and Edward Swan. Ed was a loving husband, devoted father, respected brother, and beloved son.
Among those who knew him, he was recognized as a birding savant, sharing his extensive expertise of birds with ardent enthusiasm.
Ed's knowledge of birds was legendary, yet his manner was modest and humble. He learned birdwatching from his grandmother in rural Grays Harbor County, and he developed spotting techniques while hunting in the Olympic Mountains with his dad. As a master birder, Ed organized dozens of Christmas Bird Counts in multiple counties; conducted scientific surveys to document changes in the diversity and abundance of birds; and greatly contributed to community science in Washington State and beyond.
Ed was meticulous in his record-keeping, noting the arrival and departure dates for migratory and rare birds wherever he lived. This effort culminated in his essential book, The Birds of Vashon Island: A Natural History of Habitat and Population Transformation. Ed was a cornerstone of the avian community known for his birding-by-ear skills, understanding of critical bird habitats, and curating regional historical bird-sighting records dating back more than 100 years.
Ed passed away suddenly and unexpectedly at the age of 59, on Oct. 28, 2022. He is survived by his wife, Linda Barnes; his mother, Shirley Swan; his sons, Garnet and Leander Swan; and his sister, Caryn Swan-Jamero. He is predeceased by his father, Edward Swan, and his sister, Cynthia (Swan) Abbott.
Ed's celebration of life will be held at the Vashon United Methodist Church at 2 p.m. on Dec. 3, 2022. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be directed to the Land Trust Bird Conservation Initiative in memory of Ed Swan at www.birds.cornell.edu/tribute, or to your local Audubon chapter.