By late August and early September, adult and immature geese migrate southwards towards their wintering grounds, when the arctic starts getting colder. They fly in neat long lines or V-shaped formations. Scientists believe that this formation causes favorable air currents and riding them makes it easier for the geese to cover longer distances. Located in the pacific flyway , Skagit flats are major wintering grounds for the snow geese. Skagit valley and the Frasier river delta just north of the Canadian border are the first areas free of snow while coming south from the Arctic. These are also the first big estuaries that are conducive to supporting the migrating geese population. Extensive aquatic vegetation, moderate temperatures, waterlogged fields and large moist farmlands make these areas very attractive for the snow geese to overwinter. At night, they rest in the waters of Skagit bay.

In the Skagit valley, vast areas are protected by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (http://www.wa.gov/wdfw ). In conjunction with local farmers, they plant grass and winter wheat that are favorable for geese. During the wintering months, geese feed heavily in the fields and on roots, rhizomes (particularly on Scirpus Americanus, commonly known as three square sedge) and tubers at the tidal flats, building up bodily reserves for the next summer's nesting season. Wintering grounds play another important role in the life of geese since it is here that the geese find their mates typically during their second winter, although they dont mate until their third winter. A female goose typically finds a mate that is the same color as her parents and the forged bonds usually last life-long. Snow geese live an average of 8 years, breeding for 6 of those years.

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife manages the geese population by permitting hunting, setting bag limits and hunting durations based on the nesting successes of the preceeding season. The department tries to maintain the population levels at 35000 geese, closing the hunting season early if the population drops. Snow geese are very adaptable and its ability to elude hunting mortality has caused it to thrive despite such management restraits. Hunting is only permitted at specially marked areas and a hunting and parking permit is usually required for using such areas. Check with the Washington Fish and Wildlife department in the La Conner area (360 466-4345) for hunting information. The Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (1043 Bayview-Edison Road, Mount Vernon, WA 98273, Phone: (360) 428-1558 ) is a good resource for other birds that are commonly found in this valley. Head north from Seattle on I-5 to exit 226. Follow WA 536 to WA 20 and look for signs to turn north towards the reserve and nearby Bay View State Park. While you are at the Interpretive Center, pick up maps listing favorable spots for watching birds. Typically snow geese make their home in the delta between Conway and La Conner, along the Skagit Bay.

Padilla Bay is one of the very few estuarine reserves designated around the nation. This bay is home to a variety of birds including brandts, eagles and raptors. Expect to find predatory birds especially during the waterfowl migration season through this area in winter and early spring.

One sunny day in late winter, we set out to the Skagit delta in hopes of finding the wintering geese for close observation. We routinely stopped at each of the areas recommended by the naturalists at the Padilla Bay Reserve and on Maupin road near La Conner, we found the entire flock of birds feeding right beside the country road. Snow geese are very wary of humans and one cannot approach them at very close ranges. Nevertheless, since they were feeding right beside the road, one couldn't have asked for a closer encounter. Armed with my 400mm lens, I was fortunate to make some images of the flock. For the rest of the day, they fed on fields right beside the same road and one only had to walk the length of that road to keep up with the birds. On this particular day, the birds continued feeding even after sunset and it was only when the alpenglow on Mt.Baker in the background disappeared that they seemed content to call it a day. There were lots of opportunities for me to photograph the feeding flock, individual famililes in flight, the entire flock taking flight and birds returning to the bay at the end of the day, against a pink sky.

At the start of Spring, by late February or early March, the birds would have built up enough reserves to embark on their northerly migration to the nesting grounds. Flying at typical heights between 750 and 3500 feet, it would take 10 to 11 weeks to reach the nesting sites. En route, the flock would meet other flocks returning from other wintering sites and stop to feed whenever possible. Geese of the pacific flyway migrate to nesting grounds in Russia's Wrangel Island, northern alaska and western Canadian arctic. Here they wait until the ground starts to thaw, before building their nests, laying eggs and starting the cycle all over again.

Quick Facts About Snow Geese

Weight: 6 lbs (male) 5.5 lbs (female)

Average speed: 50 miles per hour

Migration Distance: 3,000 miles at 2,952 ft altitude

Wing Span: 35 inches

Voice: A high-pitched, barking "bow-wow!" or "howk-howk!"

Color: Two color phases: in the "blue" phase, the head and upper neck are pure white, with grayish-brown to black body and in the "snow" phase they are all white with black wing tips

Diet: shoots and roots, grass, bulbs, insects, berries, grains, aquatic plants and invertebrates

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