March Snows

Being an avid waterfowl hunter I had anxiously been awaiting for March snows. Snow geese that is! Although, unable to connect in PA with any hunting this year, I decided the next best thing to being able to hunt them would be at least to view them, capture some photo opportunities and experience one of the wonders of our natural world. There is no better place to view this phenomena than right here in Pennsylvania at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area located on the Lebanon/Lancaster border.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission owns Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area. It is a 6,254-acre facility created in 1973. A 756-acre wildlife propagation area has been set aside as a sanctuary for waterfowl and other animals.

Snow geese breed in the Arctic Tundra and winter in farmlands, lakes and coastal areas in the American Southwest, South and East Coast. They are only located in North America and make a round trip annual journey of sometimes more than 5000 miles at speeds of 50 mph or more. When seen in flight the adults are all white with jet-black wing tips. The juvenile birds have gray markings. There are also a different color phase of snow goose called the blue phase. The blue phase has a white face and very dark body.

Blue phase snow goose

Snows are smaller than the Canada goose weighing from 4 –7 pounds and have about a five-foot wing span. Snow geese winter in largely immense flocks numbering in the thousands. We were fortunate to see thousands of snow geese at Middle Creek. Approximately 80,000 snows!

We arrived at Middle Creek around 10 AM. On our way to the destination we saw a small flock (about 1000 birds) in a field. We parked the vehicle and got out to take pictures a true spectacle.... They flushed. Just like that, they lifted instantaneously and provided a little of what was to come. Upon reaching the impoundment we were able to view a few hundred Tundra Swans on the lake. These birds are quite large compared to a Canada goose and make a cooing noise while at rest. A group lifted and took flight. Even in the air they look larger as you can see by my picture.

Tundra Swans In Flight

We approached a field where the geese were feeding ravenously to prepare for the northern migration and breeding. Jimmy was totally mesmerized. He just kept saying, “I have never seen this many geese in all my life!” It is in one word AWESOME! We video taped and I snapped a few hundred pictures. Well more like 962, but who’s counting? It was like the geese were playing leapfrog in the field. A few of the flock would lift and fly in front of the feeding frenzy and proceed to feed. Then they would continue to engage themselves to new ground to optimize intake.

We parked and went inside the Visitor’s Center. The Center houses many waterfowl exhibits along with other Pennsylvania wildlife. There is an observation room of the impoundment and learning displays. Such as the migration map for snow geese and a simulated goose blind and hunt. Which of course Don Jimmy and I made a point to try out.

Visitor Center Observation Deck.

Waterfowl Migration Map

After leaving there we proceeded to bundle up, grab our cameras and walk back on Willow Point Trail. This is an easy ten-minute hike that takes you back to an observation point and overlooks a large portion of the 400-acre lake. This is when the best part of the day occurred. While we were back snapping photos and video taping the thousands of geese and swans, a single engine plane flew over. For whatever reason, the geese didn’t like it and they flushed. Not a few ALL of them. The sky actually darkened above us and the sound was almost deafening. Although I feared looking up... I couldn’t resist the photo opportunity! Believe me no photos could do that justice. This exodus was unforgettable! After the plane flew over, literally within seconds the thousands of geese that took refuge on the water flew right back to the fields to begin feeding again.

The number of Snow Geese has caused great concern for many. Ongoing research has confirmed that the carrying capacity of the habitat in some areas has been exceeded to the point that "permanent damage to tundra vegetation" is occurring. In addition, and because of the amount of vegetation removed by snow geese, the salt content of remaining soils has increased, killing all vegetation. The effect is so widespread and significant that it is easily observed in data collected by satellites.

As a result of over-population on some portions of the breeding ground, snow goose goslings in some areas are smaller than gosling’s 15 years ago. Gosling mortality is high and diseases are killing many of goslings. Survivors remain small as adults and may be less able to withstand the stress of migration. Adults are surviving at a high rate thus shifting the age structure of the population toward older geese - a dangerous situation. Old birds may be more susceptible to disease and a disease outbreak might spread quickly. If a population crash occurs, there will be few young, strong geese to begin the rebuilding process. That is why hunting these geese is so important not only for the Tundra region but for their mere survival.

The day went by so fast and the sights were truly remarkable. We took a ride through an interior road through the compound only to view more Snow Geese, Canada Geese and Swans. We did see a few flyway ducks. Some Common Mergansers, Hooded Mergansers, Buffle heads, Scaups, Ring Necks and Black Ducks. Not as many as I was hoping for but the show the Snow Geese provided well made up for any lack of ducks! If you haven’t ever gone and visited Middle Creek it is well worth the trip. It is one of nature’s true wonders!