Nature Walk: Geese on the Move

The sound of spring is carried on the wind. At first we often hear just a faint and distant honking, but careful observation may reveal pencil-like lines of birds above the horizon. Soon we know geese are on the move. Greater white-fronted geese have a call that is higher pitched than Canada geese or snow geese. They dominate this group along with a few snow geese. The northward migration for waterfowl is not a foregone conclusion. Fickle spring weather with frozen lakes often reroutes them back south where there is open water.