Snow Geese

For almost 10 years now we have been making the pilgrimage to Clay Township, Lancaster County, PA to see this wondrous sight.  The gathering of the Snow Geese, Tundra Swans, and Canadian Geese as they gather to make their flight northward each spring.

2005 was our first trip, just after our daughter had turned 4, she was able to walk well on her own & didn't require much assistance from us to walk the long paths back to the lake viewing areas.  The kids and our niece have all gotten so big since that 1st trip.   

Some things that we learned after our 1st trip:  dress warm no matter the temperatures (windy & ground is COLD).  Wear boots (it's muddy!) bring a mono-pod or tripod for the camera (long wait times for flight of the birds).  early afternoon on a weekday is best time to visit (less people).  Look for other birds, too (a lot of wildlife there to see).  Don't be afraid to drive the park's roads through the fields (can get many photos from the warmth of your car).

In 2008 we arranged to have our son's Pack Meeting at the information center and then the families could explore on their own afterwards.  This was a great experience for many of the families.  It introduced them to a great resource for nature close to home.  I was surprised at the number of families that had never done anything like this...

Our son is assisting his sister with viewing some of the geese that are out on the lake.  I love seeing them being like this, it doesn't happen as often as I'd like it to...tis a precious thing.

The kids were disappointed with this year's trip.  The bird count was WAY down from past years.

2010 was one of the largest gatherings here at Middlecreek.  The fields along the roads leading to the Wildlife Reserve were so FULL of birds.  Our son was not able to come that year b/c of track practice.  My husband and I and our daughter had a fun afternoon.

The geese were coming right up to our daughter.  She loved that they were getting so close to her, but watch those fingers...they are WILD and should always be approached with caution & NEVER feed them.

One tip I forgot to mention earlier: wear a hat & have towels in your car for clean up! They are flying over you & well, birds drop things on you and you are fair game as they take flight or are coming in for a landing.  It's not pretty.

2011 we only had to drive a few miles to see the geese.  They took over a local field along the nearby creek.  It was nice to have them SO close.  Here are some more photos from along the Conewago Trail.

Be sure to get outside with your camera & take those photos.  You'll NEVER regret having done so.