The brakes are on for the 2006 light goose northward migration. A winter storm moving eastward out of the Great Basin promises to halt the northward push of snow geese for the time being. That is good news for hunters in the lower Mississippi and Central flyways. With colder weather on tap for their northern neighbors, southern snow goose hunters will have another week, at least, before the white wave makes its way out of the southern tier.
Hello folks, and as always, welcome to Waterfowler.com.
Now that the regular waterfowl season is over, winter has decided to bare its teeth. But even though the regular waterfowl season is closed the late arrival of winter is providing some spectacular shooting of another kind. The opportunity to hit the field and shoot photographs of full mating plumage waterfowl is exceptional now.
As waterfowl of all kinds begin staging for the northward migration, waterfowl shutterbugs should take the time to snap off a few frames. The striking plumage and courtship behavior exhibited by ducks and geese, as they prepare to return to the breeding grounds, make remarkable subjects for the camera. At this time of the year, the sites and sounds of waterfowl are worth a few extra treks to the marsh, with or without a camera.
In many mid-flyway states, the return migration brings concentrations of waterfowl rarely seen in the fall. Just watching and learning the ways of waterfowl, is a great way to spend time in the field.
And now, on to the Light Goose Migration Report.
CENTRAL and MISSISSIPPI FLYWAYS
With a winter storm rolling across the mid-tier states of both flyways, it is a safe bet that the migration will be on hold for the time being. Though there are some reports of snows moving out of the coastal reaches of Texas and Louisiana, the extent of the northward push will be very limited if this most recent storm performs as forecasters are predicting.
With snow and mixed freezing precipitation in the forecast from Utah to the far northern reaches of Texas and eastward into the mid-delta of Mississippi, there is a strong likelihood of a sharp rise in light goose concentrations along the southern boundary of this winter weather event. North Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Northern Louisiana, Mississippi, some portions of Tennessee and southern Illinois are set up to see a traffic jam of snows as winter makes another stand.
Portions of southern Illinois are already holding above average numbers of snow geese, but this number could swing wildly either direction as the front moves east.
For areas west of the Mississippi River, the leading edge of the light goose migration is not likely to make much, if any, progress northward over the next few days. There is, however, a good chance that the trailing edges of the migration will see a bulk up in overall numbers.
ATLANTIC FLYWAY
After a major snow storm last week, the migration of light geese along the Atlantic coast, all but came to a grinding halt. The week ahead will be a wild one as well. Mid-week, warm southerly winds will move up the coast only to be replaced by arctic air and falling temperatures as the weekend kicks off.
The wild swing in temperatures could push the trailing edge of the migration north out of the mid-coastal states. With colder weather moving back into the upper Atlantic Flyway, in short order, the push is not likely to get across the U.S./Canadian border any time soon.
As the tug-of-war between winter and spring continues, the return migration of North American waterfowl species is in its earliest stages. Whether you are planning to meet it to take part in the conservation order or just to witness the spectacle, it is a sight every waterfowler should see. With the memories of the most recent waterfowl season fresh in our minds, it is inspirational to see the birds as they gather and move north to renew the resource from which we, as waterfowlers, derive such pleasure.
