Thousands of Snow Geese

On Saturday I went with two friends to Middle Creek Management Area (in southeastern Pennsylvania) to watch thousands of Snow Geese take a break from their migration north on the area’s large lake and surrounding fields. I learned of Middle Creek a couple years ago and was determined to finally visit this year. Those who had seen the spectacle in prior years spoke of thousands of geese covering the lake and filling the air like snow (Public Domain photo courtesy of NBII).

In late February people on the birding listserv I subscribe to began posting of their experiences at Middle Creek. Each day in early March the geese count grew until finally it crested at 120,000! My outing with friends, scheduled a bit earlier in March, was rained out and by the time we arrived most of the geese had already taken to the sky on route to their breeding grounds—the artic tundra. Even so, we were witness to about 12,000 of these “vegetarian” geese, mostly on the water but many grazing grass on the surrounding fields. These are white, medium-sized geese with black primary feathers. Yet scanning their numbers, you could also find some individuals splattered or sprinkled with black, a dark “morph” of the snow goose.

Though highly vocal, the continuous blanket of snow geese created a serene experience for those of us (a few dozen) watching and listening by the shore. But the mood changed dramatically when thousands of birds lifted from the water, sweeping into the air to swirl and circle over the blue water. Then a thrill ran through my veins as the choreography of their collective movement lifted me upward in mind and spirit. How exhilerating!

Here's a video I found on YouTube that can help you imagine the experience.



Until next time . . . Keep birds in your heart!

Georgia Anne