Picture Of The Week 01-01-07

Where: Milton, DE • Broadkill Road • Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge

Notes: This Snow Goose was part of the largest gatherings of birds I have ever seen. The sheer size and density of this gaggle made it feel like one expansive organism completely covering the lake from edge to edge. By using a satellite photo of the lake I estimated the group to be around 150,000 (at one bird per 4 square feet on approximately a 600,000 square foot lake). Many more geese added to the assembly as many more skein arrived and landed just before dusk. It seemed improbable that the additional geese could find an open spot of water to land on, but they managed to somehow. I sat for over four hours watching, photographing and listening to this mass of majestic birds until after the sun had set. The constant calamity of geese honking could be heard from a good distance away becoming louder at times when occasional squabbles would break out or when large sections of the group became disturbed from traffic on the nearby roadway. This is easily one of the most impressive feats of nature I have ever witnessed!