In a former time in my life, my walk to work let me get to know the school crossing guard at a certain corner. Usually we just exchanged the usual morning greetings and comments on the weather. But one Monday morning, she excitedly told me that over the weekend she had witnessed "thousands of snow geese taking off at once" and described how it quickened her pulse, filled her with awe, and made her cry tears of joy. I will never forget her animated sharing of that experience! Your piece brought her to mind immediately. Thank you!
This is great -- thanks, Catherine! We're fortunate here in Vermont, where Snow Geese stop over on migration in big numbers, including just across Lake Champlain in upstate New York. Snow Geese (and Ross's Geese) and some other species also move south along the West Coast and inland. My images and video are from Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico, where the geese and Sandhill Cranes are profound.
I loved reading this, Bryan! And I adore watching the geese arrive and leave from this island. When I began working with jackdaws, they were known as birds with 'gold star monogamy', forming lifelong pair-bonds and thought to never cheat. After some genomic analysis I found this was not the case... quite a few males were fathers of nests that did not belong to them! Most amazingly, we found a female incubating a clutch where half the eggs belonged to her and her partner (The Wasp) and half belonged to The Wasp and another female, who'd had the audacity to break into the nest, lay her lovers' eggs, and then leave The Wasp's poor partner to care for a humongous brood. Oh, the drama of bird life!
Thanks for this, Rebecca. I get so much joy and awareness from reading of your field work and explorations on between two seas. As it turns out, there is some nest parasitism among geese as well. Females might lay an egg adjacent to another female's nest, as which point she rolls the egg into hers.
Here in Vermont we've got mountain-nesting Bicknell's Thrush, in which females establish territories and males (sort of landless nomads) fly around the mountaintop and vie for copulations with multiple females on there territories. Almost always mixed paternity. And there's even some evidence that males feed young at a nest in proportion to the number of offspring that are his in the nest!
Well, thank you again Bryan. A multilayered experience. This essay seemed different to me. Each element of this text and then the videos brought to mind the complexity of life on Earth. Each individual life; its role in the complex of becoming and doing. I remember the various groups of species amassed and moving I have seen; from thousands of common cabbage white butterflies to termites emerging from a decaying stump to the simpler mass migration of amphibians to their vernal pool. And then I considered the amazing confluence of individual contributors to the videos you linked. How special it is to be alive. It triggered so many memories and questions. Yes. It even brought tears to my eyes. We live in a time of many small and great changes. Could paying attention and acting together curve the arc of time...
Thanks, Mary. No longer guiding. But if you get onto eBird.org, you can keep up on where the geese are at any given point. (It takes a bit of learning.) Dead Creek Wildlife Management Area is still a good bet, from now all the way into November. Maybe I'll do an update for my paying subscribers on this. Stay tuned!
I watched Snow Geese at Dead Creek here in Vermont. What a sight! I enjoyed your videos. The Sandhill Cranes looked a bit startled when the geese took off, then resigned as they flew around and resettled.
Yeah, I was going to mention the cranes. They're kind of "chill" in all of that, but it's nice to hear their rolling calls. For what it's worth, you can also see dark-morph Snow Geese in the flock in that video. There should even be some Ross's Geese in there.
Great post Bryan! Any chance you will be posting (on this platform or another) about Snow Geese migration this fall? The where and the when? I had a wonderful experience in Chazy, NY a few years ago, just thousands of them. Happy birding!
Thanks, Robert. As you may know, I used to track the geese each autumn for folks. But I'll probably do it for paying subscribers -- we're now heading toward "peak goose." So I'll post something on it soon. Stay tuned!
Loved the videos and story! This reminded me of attending a TNC heritage conference once convened outside Lincoln, Nebraska (1990s era), specifically timed to witness the spring migration. The skies were densely peppered with layer upon layers of snow geese. It was said to be too early for the spotting of any whooping cranes - yet on the way back to the airport I noticed a trio of them in the sky; needless to say we stopped and soaked up that rare view, which topped it all off. And the Daltrey scream NEVER gets old!
Great stuff, Mike. Yeah, I've seen the goose and crane migration through the Great Plains -- impressive! They seem to be everywhere in the skies and in the fields. Glad "the scream" worked for you -- yep, never gets old (like some of us)!
I had a similar gift, though it was Great Blue Herons, hundreds or thousands lifting off at the same time. I cried. So beautiful. The sound and the open question you ask "how/why," remain as well. Thank you for the video. It was gorgeous.
Today’s column strengthens my resolve to get down to the Salton Sea here in SE California to see the thousands of snow geese and some Ross’ geese that descend into the farm fields each winter. Though I have experienced it many times, those early hours around sunrise when the air fills with the shapes of white geese, the sound of wings, their calls, brings a smile to my face and chills down my arms as I raise my binoculars to the sky and follow them in!
I missed this ritual the past couple of winters, my attention absorbed in other places and activities; the sheer vastness of all life has to offer! But this winter I will not miss. A dear birding mentor, teacher, leader, friend, Gene Cardiff, a legend and a treasure to all So CA birders and beyond, has left this earth last week at age 96. Decades ago, Gene introduced me to the Snow Geese, instilled in me the wonder and magnificence of birding. He will be with me as I raise my arms and eyes to the sky one chilly morning this January to see another of life’s wonders. Thank you, Gene. And thank you, Bryan, for expressing the beauty and the mystery we experience in Chasing Nature.
Oh, gosh -- thanks for this, Deanne. It's nice to be mentioned along with Gene. But, yes, of course you'll see the geese this year. Please send them and Gene's spirit my warm regards. And please pass along news of what you discover!
Pretty far south for me, though my mother lives in Missoula and the Lee Metcalf isn't that far from there. Worth a couple hours' drive at the right time! But the big place people like to go is Freezout Lake during spring migration, a couple hours' drive east: https://www.wildwingschoteau.org/freezout
There is one example where humans beings have learned to be as clever and altruistic as geese. On a bicycle pace line the lead rider blocks the wind and allows the riders to draft behind. When the lead tires they will fall back the next rider will take a pull. The rhythm of the pedals and entrainment of the riders creates a truly transcendent experience. I can only imagine how wonderful it must be to be a goose💕
Yes, indeed -- great analogy! To be honest, I can't recall whether I've seen geese actually shift positions. I'm fairly certain I have (but it disturbs me that I can't recall). So I guess I'll have to watch for it this autumn.
Wow, it's amazing to see all those Snow Geese taking flight in your video!
I've seen several skeins of geese (probably Pink-footed Geese) flying over Edinburgh in the past couple of weeks.
We just had a Pink-footed Goose visiting Vermont -- way off course. It happens; we're happy.
In a former time in my life, my walk to work let me get to know the school crossing guard at a certain corner. Usually we just exchanged the usual morning greetings and comments on the weather. But one Monday morning, she excitedly told me that over the weekend she had witnessed "thousands of snow geese taking off at once" and described how it quickened her pulse, filled her with awe, and made her cry tears of joy. I will never forget her animated sharing of that experience! Your piece brought her to mind immediately. Thank you!
This is great -- thanks, Catherine! We're fortunate here in Vermont, where Snow Geese stop over on migration in big numbers, including just across Lake Champlain in upstate New York. Snow Geese (and Ross's Geese) and some other species also move south along the West Coast and inland. My images and video are from Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico, where the geese and Sandhill Cranes are profound.
It does touch a chord within. Thanks for spreading the joy.
I loved reading this, Bryan! And I adore watching the geese arrive and leave from this island. When I began working with jackdaws, they were known as birds with 'gold star monogamy', forming lifelong pair-bonds and thought to never cheat. After some genomic analysis I found this was not the case... quite a few males were fathers of nests that did not belong to them! Most amazingly, we found a female incubating a clutch where half the eggs belonged to her and her partner (The Wasp) and half belonged to The Wasp and another female, who'd had the audacity to break into the nest, lay her lovers' eggs, and then leave The Wasp's poor partner to care for a humongous brood. Oh, the drama of bird life!
Thanks for this, Rebecca. I get so much joy and awareness from reading of your field work and explorations on between two seas. As it turns out, there is some nest parasitism among geese as well. Females might lay an egg adjacent to another female's nest, as which point she rolls the egg into hers.
Here in Vermont we've got mountain-nesting Bicknell's Thrush, in which females establish territories and males (sort of landless nomads) fly around the mountaintop and vie for copulations with multiple females on there territories. Almost always mixed paternity. And there's even some evidence that males feed young at a nest in proportion to the number of offspring that are his in the nest!
Ah, fascinating! The more we learn, the more complexity and wonder there is in this world ❤️
Close observation can clarify and disclose such diversity. Life is amazing.
Well, thank you again Bryan. A multilayered experience. This essay seemed different to me. Each element of this text and then the videos brought to mind the complexity of life on Earth. Each individual life; its role in the complex of becoming and doing. I remember the various groups of species amassed and moving I have seen; from thousands of common cabbage white butterflies to termites emerging from a decaying stump to the simpler mass migration of amphibians to their vernal pool. And then I considered the amazing confluence of individual contributors to the videos you linked. How special it is to be alive. It triggered so many memories and questions. Yes. It even brought tears to my eyes. We live in a time of many small and great changes. Could paying attention and acting together curve the arc of time...
This is wonderful, Sue. Thanks. So many dimensions to nature's multitudes -- I guess it's infinite. Good for us! And I'm glad you're taking it all in.
Once again, you've captured that sense of awe! Thank you.
BTW how and when can we find the snow geese near Lake Champlain? Any chance you take groups there?
Thanks, Mary. No longer guiding. But if you get onto eBird.org, you can keep up on where the geese are at any given point. (It takes a bit of learning.) Dead Creek Wildlife Management Area is still a good bet, from now all the way into November. Maybe I'll do an update for my paying subscribers on this. Stay tuned!
I watched Snow Geese at Dead Creek here in Vermont. What a sight! I enjoyed your videos. The Sandhill Cranes looked a bit startled when the geese took off, then resigned as they flew around and resettled.
Yeah, I was going to mention the cranes. They're kind of "chill" in all of that, but it's nice to hear their rolling calls. For what it's worth, you can also see dark-morph Snow Geese in the flock in that video. There should even be some Ross's Geese in there.
Once again, your insight to nature have made my day. Loved the added videos for a multimedia effect. The joke was pretty good, too!
You liked the joke! You've made my day, Carla! 😀
Geese, faithful enough,
take long family road trips.
Flocks burst into flight~~~
...
In V formation
geese flap, fly, strain, soar, repeat.
Take turns taking lead.
...
Awesome videos rock
Launch gathering energy***
Here we honk for geese!
... and the kids don't seem to complain on those road trips!
Great post Bryan! Any chance you will be posting (on this platform or another) about Snow Geese migration this fall? The where and the when? I had a wonderful experience in Chazy, NY a few years ago, just thousands of them. Happy birding!
Thanks, Robert. As you may know, I used to track the geese each autumn for folks. But I'll probably do it for paying subscribers -- we're now heading toward "peak goose." So I'll post something on it soon. Stay tuned!
I like that - “peak goose”. This gives me something to look forward to after “peak foliage”. Thanks Bryan.
Loved the videos and story! This reminded me of attending a TNC heritage conference once convened outside Lincoln, Nebraska (1990s era), specifically timed to witness the spring migration. The skies were densely peppered with layer upon layers of snow geese. It was said to be too early for the spotting of any whooping cranes - yet on the way back to the airport I noticed a trio of them in the sky; needless to say we stopped and soaked up that rare view, which topped it all off. And the Daltrey scream NEVER gets old!
Great stuff, Mike. Yeah, I've seen the goose and crane migration through the Great Plains -- impressive! They seem to be everywhere in the skies and in the fields. Glad "the scream" worked for you -- yep, never gets old (like some of us)!
I had a similar gift, though it was Great Blue Herons, hundreds or thousands lifting off at the same time. I cried. So beautiful. The sound and the open question you ask "how/why," remain as well. Thank you for the video. It was gorgeous.
Hundreds of herons -- never seen that! Well, perhaps close to it in Florida. Thanks!
If I can find the video, I'll share it :)
Today’s column strengthens my resolve to get down to the Salton Sea here in SE California to see the thousands of snow geese and some Ross’ geese that descend into the farm fields each winter. Though I have experienced it many times, those early hours around sunrise when the air fills with the shapes of white geese, the sound of wings, their calls, brings a smile to my face and chills down my arms as I raise my binoculars to the sky and follow them in!
I missed this ritual the past couple of winters, my attention absorbed in other places and activities; the sheer vastness of all life has to offer! But this winter I will not miss. A dear birding mentor, teacher, leader, friend, Gene Cardiff, a legend and a treasure to all So CA birders and beyond, has left this earth last week at age 96. Decades ago, Gene introduced me to the Snow Geese, instilled in me the wonder and magnificence of birding. He will be with me as I raise my arms and eyes to the sky one chilly morning this January to see another of life’s wonders. Thank you, Gene. And thank you, Bryan, for expressing the beauty and the mystery we experience in Chasing Nature.
Oh, gosh -- thanks for this, Deanne. It's nice to be mentioned along with Gene. But, yes, of course you'll see the geese this year. Please send them and Gene's spirit my warm regards. And please pass along news of what you discover!
This made my day and reminded me of a Canada goose conference I attended. Thank you. They are such good teachers: https://whalesinmybackyard.substack.com/p/the-avian-conference
A fabulous essay, Jena. Thanks for that! My kind of conference!
Thank you Bryan. Mine too. I enjoyed your post SO much. It really brightened my day.
I thought I'd read everything about geese but evidently not! These words uplift something like the lead goose's wings. Even the joke, snork 😂
Looks like the western valley (Missoula and Lee Metcalf NWR) is a mini flyway for Snow Geese and probably Ross's Geese).
Pretty far south for me, though my mother lives in Missoula and the Lee Metcalf isn't that far from there. Worth a couple hours' drive at the right time! But the big place people like to go is Freezout Lake during spring migration, a couple hours' drive east: https://www.wildwingschoteau.org/freezout
Wow -- Freezout! Yay!
There is one example where humans beings have learned to be as clever and altruistic as geese. On a bicycle pace line the lead rider blocks the wind and allows the riders to draft behind. When the lead tires they will fall back the next rider will take a pull. The rhythm of the pedals and entrainment of the riders creates a truly transcendent experience. I can only imagine how wonderful it must be to be a goose💕
Thank you for sharing this sweet story…
Yes, indeed -- great analogy! To be honest, I can't recall whether I've seen geese actually shift positions. I'm fairly certain I have (but it disturbs me that I can't recall). So I guess I'll have to watch for it this autumn.
Lovely image: “The geese are 5,000 arrows drawn on 5,000 trembling bows.”
Thanks, Brian. Nice to hear that from another writer!