Snow geese return by thousands to Freezout Lake
In a matter of seconds, a flock of snow geese take flight at sunrise. (JP Edge photo)
A snow goose flys over Freezout Lake, on the eastern Rocky Mountain Front. (JP Edge photo)
Snow geese migration at Freezout Lake near Choteau. (JP Edge photo)
Tundra Swans fly over Freezout Lake. (JP Edge photo)
The annual snow geese migration at Freezout Lake Wildlife Management Area has arrived this year, but with a slower start than normal. By Thursday last week steady waves of migrating snow geese landed at the lake. Last week saw slightly below average numbers of geese according to several reports, but an increased sighting of tundra swans.
Every year, snow geese, in the hundreds of thousands, stop at Freezout traveling in large groups en route to northern breeding grounds in Alaska and Canada for the warmer months. Unlike Canadian geese that fly in a V formation, snow geese fly in staggered formations of wavy lines that, along with their sheer numbers can create stunning views as they congregate above the lake.
Located between Fairfield and Choteau, west of Great Falls, Freezout Lake Wildlife Management Area is 12,000 acres of wetland, shortgrass prairie. An assortment of waterfowl, gulls, raptors and songbirds can be a birder’s paradise as thousands of birds fill the skies every year. While visiting, there are several amenities including: good pullouts to park, dry camping, pit toilets as well as hiking trails; but proper footwear is helpful, and strong, gusting winds can keep the birds flocked in the center of the lake.
To get there take Highway 2 to Browning and then Highway 89 south to the management area.
The best time to view large swaths of geese is at dawn, where they wait for the sun before taking off for the day. Some of the roads around the lake remain closed, although the tour road that leaves from the Wildlife Management office is open. Parking can be busy along the road, but there are several locations the birds like to congregate that are a short drive. The camping is minimal, but there is plenty of space if you don’t mind being far from a pit toilet, or close to a neighbor.
This year, among the snow geese migrating also included a host of different ducks and other waterfowl.
The area is also known to see breeding trumpeter swans and Clark’s grebes as well as dozens of other songbirds and waterfowl that call the region home in the summer.
