For many, Washington’s flocks of winter snow geese are a favorite spectacle. While these birds come here every year, they never fail to amaze. Why? Because they come to western Washington’s greater Skagit Delta by the tens of thousands! When these flocks take off en masse – say, because a bald eagle flies overhead – they are so noisy and dizzying to behold that it’s easy to lose one's balance.
Our snow geese spend their summers on Wrangel Island in Russia. From there they travel approximately 3,000 miles to the Stillaguamish and Skagit river deltas, where they begin to arrive in late September.
For more context on the nearby village and its connection to Fir Island, explore Conway’s local history.
Worldwide, snow geese were reduced to only a few thousand around 1900. But they’ve made a remarkable comeback, and now are one of the most abundant waterfowl in the world. They’ve been so successful, in fact, that in some areas they are starting to destroy their own habitat as they tear vegetation out of the ground to eat.
You can check out these amazing birds and more at the annual Port Susan Snow Goose & Birding Festival in February. The website has lots of information about the festival, special events, exploring the area – and of course, snow geese.
You can also learn more about snow geese on Seattle Audubon’s BirdWeb.
Many homeowners in Cedar Ridge Estates can hear the snow geese honking late into the evening as they rest on Sixteen Lake in our community or as they fly overhead.
Where to connect the spectacle with the landscape
The Fir Island Farm Reserve, west of Conway, offers a particularly useful introduction to the delta. WDFW acquired the property in 1995. Farmers help provide winter forage, and a 2016 project restored part of the site to tidal estuary for young salmon. The landscape links working agriculture, migrating birds and salmon habitat.
The reserve attracts waterfowl from fall through early spring. Access is limited to the entrance road, parking area and short dike trail, and the site is closed during darkness. Check WDFW’s current pass requirements and advisories before visiting. There is no guarantee that a flock will be visible on a particular afternoon.
Make room for the birds and the farms
Bring binoculars and let distance do the work. Stay in authorized public areas, avoid blocking driveways or farm entrances, and watch without trying to make birds take flight. A quieter visit gives you more time to notice feeding, resting and movement within the flock.
Listen as well as look. The sound of geese is part of winter in the lower valley, but a distant flock can contain several species. Use WDFW’s snow-goose page to compare what you see.