December Snowstorm Brings Epic Migration

If, on Sunday, December 7th, you happened to step out-of-doors anywhere in the state of Iowa, then it is likely that you heard or saw multiple flocks of southbound Canada geese.  The unfolding scene was incredible.  It was, in fact, the biggest goose migration of the year.

The reason for the mass exodus was no mystery.  The stage was set the day before when, on Saturday, December 6, a major winter storm system careened across the northern U.S.  In parts of Iowa, the system delivered up to eight inches of new snow.  The farther north you looked, the greater the accumulations.  Although most of the lakes and wetlands from central Iowa to northern Minnesota were already frozen, some of the larger water bodies still contained open airholes hosting thousands of geese – geese whose food sources were now buried in several inches of new snow.

With its work done, the storm system quickly moved on.  By late Saturday night, the snow had ended and southeasterly winds were shifting to the north.  The skies were clearing.  As temperatures plummeted to near zero, the Minnesota holdouts decided to call it quits.  Leaving their staging areas behind, these honkers were southbound and down.

By 9 am Sunday, the flight was arriving in Northern Iowa.  These geese were no low altitude fliers.  Many of the flocks were specked-out, mile-high travelers that, once heard, were difficult to locate.  Hard to say what the wind velocity was way up there, but I’d guess that the Canadas were clocking a mile per minute, maybe more.  Whatever the speed, it was spectacular as birds appearing from the north quickly disappeared beyond the southern horizon.  Equally spectacular, was the sheer number of geese on the wing.  From east to west, border to border, tens of thousands of Canada geese must have flown over Iowa in what turned out to be an epic, all day migration.  In addition to Canadas, the migration was also joined by scores of trumpeter swans and large numbers of adult and juvenile bald eagles.  For Iowa’s outdoor enthusiasts, it was a day to remember.