Let it Snow Geese

Posted on February 23, 2020 by Pam Lazos

 

Let It Snow Geese

Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area in Kleinfeltersville in Lancaster and Lebanon counties is a 6,000-acre parcel that provides a stopover for migrating birds en route from sunnier climes south of Pennsylvania to their spring and summer breeding grounds on the Arctic tundra. 

Operated by the Pennsylvania Game Commission, the site was created from 1965 to 1972 from pieces of various local farms and offered local hunters the opportunity to enter a drawing to win one of a set amount of licenses to hunt Canadian geese. 

Fast forward to present day where thousands of snow geese — who mate for life, by the way — take a break on their long flight home.  On President’s Day this year, about 130,000 geese took a swim, grabbed some lunch and raised a ruckus at Middle Creek, drawing hundreds of locals, many with camera lenses as long as your arm, to witness the spectacle. 

Once home, a pair of snow geese will produce between two and six eggs which the female will incubate over a period of 22 to 25 days.  Come fall, the family hits the sky again, migrating along the Atlantic Coast to warmer weather. 

The record for the most snow geese at Middle Creek was set on February 21, 2018 at 200,000 geese. I have no idea how they count them.

I took these pictures with my phone so the depth is no where near what it could be, but you get the idea.  The most intriguing part to me was not just the number of geese but the noise they make.  It’s a real treat to see it live, but if you can’t get there…  

go here for the live snow geese cam and see these beautiful birds for yourself.  Hurry, while they’re still hanging around the place. 

pam lazos 2.23.20

About Pam Lazos

writer, blogger, environmentally hopeful
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41 Responses to Let it Snow Geese

  1. jeanleesworld says:
    March 20, 2020 at 12:49 pm

    This reminds me of the Horicon Marshes here in Wisconsin. Just a flood of wildlife to experience. Love it!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  2. Nadine says:
    March 2, 2020 at 6:01 am

    What gorgeous photos, Pam, and I love your quiet way of writing the facts. Feels like a celebration of life and landscape.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  3. Resa says:
    February 29, 2020 at 2:32 am

    Wonderful shots!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  4. Michele Anderson says:
    February 28, 2020 at 10:02 pm

    They are so beautiful. I just love geese and especially love hearing them when they are flying.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  5. cath says:
    February 27, 2020 at 8:39 pm

    It looks glorious, and sounds like a real success story. Beautiful photos.

    Like

    Reply
  6. denise421win says:
    February 25, 2020 at 8:34 pm

    Hi, Pam
    Those photos are lovely and they tell a great story as well

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  7. hilarymb says:
    February 25, 2020 at 11:49 am

    Hi Pam – looks amazing and must have been a sight (or two or three) to behold. I do love the information boards they give us at certain viewing points … at least we can get a bit of extra knowledge on the spot. Wonderful – thank you … cheers Hilary

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  8. Susan Scott says:
    February 25, 2020 at 4:58 am

    I missed the live cam but saw a few short ones on that link by David CAMeron … quite something …can only be in awe. Thanks Pam …

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  9. Laurie says:
    February 24, 2020 at 8:45 pm

    We were at Middle Creek on President’s Day too! Fellow blogger Linda alerted me to this post and I am so glad she did. I took some photos too, but you are right – the pictures can’t do the spectacle justice.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  10. Climate Researcher says:
    February 24, 2020 at 4:04 pm

    Phenomenal pictures and great story

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  11. lindasschaub says:
    February 24, 2020 at 3:35 am

    Your pictures are just as beautiful as the sight you told me about. I will return to the web cam during the day tomorrow but here it was 10:30 at night and they were still pretty loud. How lucky you are to see this Pam – I’m going to pass your post on to a few people, including Laurie, who lives near you and told me about seeing this sight last weekend.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  12. Rosaliene Bacchus says:
    February 23, 2020 at 10:54 pm

    What a spectacle, Pam! Quite a noisy bunch, too. I imagine them catching up on the news of the weather and on the trip ahead 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  13. Yeah, Another Blogger says:
    February 23, 2020 at 7:54 pm

    That’s a really beautiful sight. Certainly not something you see every day.

    Hi Pam. Enjoy the new week.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  14. Ken Dowell says:
    February 23, 2020 at 6:04 pm

    Went to the snow geese cam. What an amazing site! The noise is a little eerie though.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  15. shehannemoore says:
    February 23, 2020 at 5:54 pm

    Amazing birds, amazing journey, amazing pics x

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  16. Ally Bean says:
    February 23, 2020 at 5:29 pm

    That’s a lot of geese, I say stating the obvious, but in awe of the number, however it was determined. The life of a snow goose sounds organized, like it’s a bird with a plan.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  17. KDKH says:
    February 23, 2020 at 4:07 pm

    I enjoy living on the Canadian goose migration route. They are strong beings and good parents (and often foster parents). Maybe someday I’ll see snow geese, too!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

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