The White Geese Phenomenon

At Freezout Lake near Choteau, MT last weekend, while almost everyone else was marveling at the huge flocks of white geese - mostly snow geese - , I was looking with amazement at the crowds of people! These spring concentrations of geese on this area have been occurring for many decades, and perhaps longer. But it is only within the past 10 or fewer years that Montanans have begun to flock to this wondrous place to witness and enjoy this great spectacle of nature.

On the afternoon of March 27, I stopped on my way home to Helena to see what sort of action there was at Freezout. And quite a sight it was. There was an estimated 200 or so vehicles in various locations on the area and who knows how many people. Motels in local communities were mostly full for the weekend. My recollections is that this is more vehicles than are normally present on the opening day of waterfowl hunting season. On Pond 5, there were an estimated 50,000 or so white geese resting on the water not very far from the throngs of delighted people. Hopefully, most of the folks present were cognizant of the fact that funding provided by hunters of past and present generations was responsible for the preservation and development of this area.

Instead of inserting a bunch bird pictures in this blog, I will substitute mostly images of the many folks enjoying this annual event. They include the young and restless, old and infirm, many birder friends of mine, old friends I haven't seen in many years, and lots of new faces that I hope to see in future years.