Destination: Spring migration at Freezout Lake

Every year, snow geese in the hundreds of thousands stop at Freezout Lake Wildlife Management Area northwest of Great Falls, traveling in large groups en route to northern breeding grounds for the warmer months.

Unlike Canada geese that fly in a V formation, snow geese fly in staggered formations of wavy lines that, along with their sheer numbers, can create stunning views as they congregate above the lake and other nearby ponds.

With this year’s particularly cold winter, the snow geese migration may come a little later than normal, if at all, depending on how long it takes for the lake to thaw.

Located between Fairfield and Choteau, Freezout Lake Wildlife Management Area’s 12,000 acres of wetland, shortgrass prairie and assortment of waterfowl, gulls, raptors and songbirds can be a birder’s paradise as thousands of birds fill the skies. While visiting, there are several amenities including good pullouts to park, dry camping, pit toilets as well as hiking trails, but proper footwear is helpful, and strong, gusting winds can keep the birds flocked in the center of the lake.

The best time to view large swaths of geese is at dawn, where the birds wait for the sun before taking off for the day. Some of the roads around the lake remain closed, although the tour road that leaves from the Wildlife Management office is open. Parking can be busy along the road, but there are several locations the birds like to congregate that are a short drive. The camping is minimal, but there is plenty of space if you don’t mind being far from a pit toilet, or close to a neighbor.

The annual snow geese migrating can also include northern pintails and tundra swan. The area is also known to see breeding trumpeter swans and clark’s grebes.

Migration updates are posted daily online at https://arcg.is/05PXWK.