| May Lee |
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| Snow Geese at Bombay Hook Nat. Wildlife Refuge |
A few years ago, I first saw snow geese at Brigantine NWR at close range. I was struck by the interactions and the noise
they make, In February 2006, I saw them feeding side by side with the sandhill cranes in the corn fields and flew-in to
rest for the night in the near by pond, again sharing them with the sandhill cranes. I missed the early morning Snow
Geese Fly-out, a spectacular sight: taking off of all resting Snow Geese, all tens of thousand of them, at once, covering
the sky with white flakes. That's why they are called snow geese.
While visiting friends in Delaware in May, found that Bombay Hook NWR is a big Snow Geese wintering ground. Phone
call last week bought good news that the snow geese are here, so down the Turnpike I went.
they make, In February 2006, I saw them feeding side by side with the sandhill cranes in the corn fields and flew-in to
rest for the night in the near by pond, again sharing them with the sandhill cranes. I missed the early morning Snow
Geese Fly-out, a spectacular sight: taking off of all resting Snow Geese, all tens of thousand of them, at once, covering
the sky with white flakes. That's why they are called snow geese.
While visiting friends in Delaware in May, found that Bombay Hook NWR is a big Snow Geese wintering ground. Phone
call last week bought good news that the snow geese are here, so down the Turnpike I went.
As Bombay Hook NWR
was approached, more
and more south-bound
traffic on the sky, white
bird with black wing tip.
No, I hope the sudden
drop of temperature
had not persuaded the
Snow Geese to fly
further south.
Hurried in the reserve,
stopped at the visitor
center and went directly
to Raymond Pool.
No sight of the Snow
Geese, so continued
north to the Shearness
Pool. Now the honks
can be heard, and
clusters of while were
settled near the marsh
plants.
was approached, more
and more south-bound
traffic on the sky, white
bird with black wing tip.
No, I hope the sudden
drop of temperature
had not persuaded the
Snow Geese to fly
further south.
Hurried in the reserve,
stopped at the visitor
center and went directly
to Raymond Pool.
No sight of the Snow
Geese, so continued
north to the Shearness
Pool. Now the honks
can be heard, and
clusters of while were
settled near the marsh
plants.
The color of the feather
will show a tint of rust if the
water has high Iron
content, a temporary
effect.
will show a tint of rust if the
water has high Iron
content, a temporary
effect.
A mother and her two
babies of this summer.
They will follow her back
to the arctic next spring
and back again in fall.
They then will start
pairing and fly back to
the same arctic breeding
ground 2008.
Snow Geese mate for
life. Their life span is 8
years.
babies of this summer.
They will follow her back
to the arctic next spring
and back again in fall.
They then will start
pairing and fly back to
the same arctic breeding
ground 2008.
Snow Geese mate for
life. Their life span is 8
years.
Once in a while, there
will a "blue morph"
among the white snow
geese. It is a genetic
modification and a
dominant gene too.
However, in their
pairing, they will select
the mate color similar
to his/her own parent.
will a "blue morph"
among the white snow
geese. It is a genetic
modification and a
dominant gene too.
However, in their
pairing, they will select
the mate color similar
to his/her own parent.
I may have gone one
step too close, that
triggered this massive
Fly-out.
step too close, that
triggered this massive
Fly-out.
I never imagined so
many snow geese can
be in this pond. The
ranger said over 10,000.
many snow geese can
be in this pond. The
ranger said over 10,000.
As I looked up into the
sky, there are so many
flying so high in the V
formation. These could
be flying away or just
migrating here.
sky, there are so many
flying so high in the V
formation. These could
be flying away or just
migrating here.
In a few minutes, this
dramatic show is getting
over and the geese are
settling down again.
dramatic show is getting
over and the geese are
settling down again.
Nice smooth landings.
Soon the sun set.
And the moon came up, shining on the lone
Whistling Swan in the salt marsh, one dike
away from the thousands of Snow Geese.
Whistling Swan in the salt marsh, one dike
away from the thousands of Snow Geese.
Left the Reserve in
sunset, carrying loads
of excitement and
memorable sights.
sunset, carrying loads
of excitement and
memorable sights.
This reminds me of
what Wang Bou said
some thousand years
ago: Clouds of sunset
fly with the lone duck,
the autumn water share
the color of the sky.
Only we got ten
thousand snow geese
here, but the mood is
mutual.
what Wang Bou said
some thousand years
ago: Clouds of sunset
fly with the lone duck,
the autumn water share
the color of the sky.
Only we got ten
thousand snow geese
here, but the mood is
mutual.