If you have plans to chase snows, the time is now! As winter retreats northward the major body of the return migration is fast on its heels.
Hello folks, and as always, welcome to Waterfowler.com.
Spring may still be a few weeks off, but the return of waterfowl to their breeding grounds is well underway. This week brought reports of ducks and geese reappearing on waters only just opening along the northern tier. As more water opens up and winter slowly fades, the full swing of courtship and renewal will get underway. It is a wonderful time to get out to the waters and see the birds as they return from their winter retreat, dressed in their finest.
Speaking of renewal, be sure to keep an eye on your Waterfowler.com Member Profile and renew or upgrade your membership. Throughout the off season WFC will keep you up to date on the latest news from every corner of the waterfowling world.
Spring promises to bring a whole new crop of great products to the WFC Online ProShop at significant savings to WFC members. Keep an eye out for the best in new products from industry names you know and trust, along with a few new toys and tools that are sure to become standard equipment for the diehard waterfowler.
And now, on to the Migration Report.
A fast moving system driving across the plains over the next few days promises to put the brakes on the rapid northward retreat of snow geese. By and large the main body of the spring migration has reached a line that bows north from CO into SD and dives southward again near IO.
Hunters toughing it out in the more southern states are still finding reasonable success, but bird concentrations are becoming more scattered as the weather warms. Most of the late departing birds have bunched together adding another level of difficulty for the southern hunters.
As of midweek, reports of significant light goose numbers are coming in from as far north as southern ND. With snowfall likely across much of the upper plains, it is likely that a slight southward shift will occur over the next few days. As warm weather invades southern states and snow falls up north there is a high probability of a snow goose traffic jam on or slightly south of the snow (freeze) line. Such stalls in the migration tend to make the birds ever more eager to get back north, so don’t be surprised if they make a big shift north as soon as the weather breaks and the waters open up. In short, the time is right to get out and take part in the special conservation season. To stay in tune with the latest where and when, go to the special 2004 Spring Snow Goose Tracking section by clicking on the link below the home page photo.
