A snow goose comes in for a landing among other snow geese in a field at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area, in Clay Township, Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023.
Blaine Shahan / LNP | LancasterOnline
What to expect from 2024 snow geese migration at Middle Creek
By Elizabeth DeOrnellas/LNP | LancasterOnline
Blaine Shahan / LNP | LancasterOnline
A snow goose comes in for a landing among other snow geese in a field at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area, in Clay Township, Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023.
The annual snow geese migration is not actually a snow sport, and the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area is awaiting a thaw that could turn its current trickle of migrating birds into a February flood of flocks.
Although snow cover has so far dampened the start of the winter migration that brings thousands of snow geese, tundra swans and Canada geese through Middle Creek on their way to Arctic summer breeding grounds, a shift in weather could drive migration numbers up in the next few weeks.
“If we get warm, and get the snow off the ground, and get the temperatures up, there’s a good chance we’re going to start seeing some coming through,” said Brian Collett, an environmental education specialist at Middle Creek.
Last year’s warm winter meant small ponds in the area did not stay frozen and migrating birds spread out through the landscape, leading to lower numbers at Middle Creek, Collett said.
Peak snow geese numbers at Middle Creek fell to 79,000 in 2023, versus the 2022 high-count of 105,000, a 25% drop.
Previous Coverage: Snow geese peak numbers potentially drop from 2022
Collett said he’s interested to see whether colder temperatures this winter could keep ice on more of the surrounding ponds, pushing a higher concentration of birds back to Middle Creek.
Local birders are preparing to welcome visitors to Middle Creek as the February and March migration weekends are expected to draw a crowd.
The Lancaster County Bird Club will sell concessions at Middle Creek’s Visitor Center on the following weekends: Feb. 17 to 18, Feb. 24 to 25 and March 2 to 3. Hot dogs, snacks and a variety of hot and cold drinks will be available to purchase, with proceeds going to support the club.
“We will also have a volunteer from the club available to help visitors identify what they are seeing at the adjacent feeder watch station as well as answer questions about birding and the club,” club President Ted Nichols II said in an email.
Middle Creek Visitor Center hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays. The center at 100 Museum Road in Clay Township is closed Mondays. Maps of Middle Creek and other visitor information can be found at lanc.news/MiddleCreekInfo.
A livestream of Middle Creek’s lake, plus more information about the migration, can be viewed at lanc.news/snowgeese. Sunrise and sunset are good times to view peak numbers.
Once geese start arriving on the lake, Middle Creek staff post estimated numbers below the live feed about every three days, Collett said.
By the Numbers
The Pennsylvania Game Commission reported these high-counts for the last five winter migrations at the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area.
Snow geese
2023: 79,000
2022: 105,000
2021: 120,000
2020: 125,000
2019: 150,000
Tundra swan
2023: 1,950
2022: 4,500
2021: 1,050
2020: 3,000
2019: 5,000
Canada geese
2023: 2,250
2022: 3,500
2021: 2,500
2020: 3,000
2019: 3,000
Related Stories
A collection of interviews, photos, and music videos, featuring local musicians who have stopped by the WITF performance studio to share a little discussion and sound. Produced by WITF’s Joe Ulrich.
