EIGHTH ANNUAL HIGH PLAINS SNOW GOOSE FESTIVAL IN LAMAR
EIGHTH ANNUAL HIGH PLAINS SNOW GOOSE FESTIVAL IN LAMAR
LAMAR, Colo. – The city of Lamar and the Colorado Division of Wildlife will co-host the eight annual "High Plains Snow Goose Festival," the weekend of February 25-28. The popular event is a chance to see flocks of thousands of snow geese during their migration through southeast Colorado.
"This festival continues to get bigger and better every year," said John Koshak, a watchable wildlife coordinator with the DOW. "The word is out that the migration of snow geese through southeast Colorado is one of the grand spectacles of bird migration in the western United States."
Snow geese are considered the most abundant goose in the world. Tens of thousands of the birds move through eastern Colorado during their spring migration.
In previous years, bird enthusiasts have been able to watch thousands of snow geese, Canada geese, and other waterfowl, take off and land as they come and go between feeding grounds and roosting sites on local reservoirs. "The sight of thousands of geese lifting off the water or circling for a landing is an unforgettable experience," said Koshak.
The weekend features a wide variety of both indoor and outdoor activities beginning with several special tours on Friday. Besides the attraction of seeing the geese, other highlights include guided nature viewing tours, a craft fair, birds of prey demonstrations, lectures, a photography workshop, hunting seminars, opportunities to explore the region’s museums and historic sites, and a banquet.
The featured speaker at this year’s Saturday evening banquet is Pete Dunne. Dunne is the founder of the World Series of Birding and Director of the Cape May Bird Observatory in New Jersey. He has written numerous books about birding. Dunne will host a special breakfast meeting and lead a raptor identification tour Saturday morning.
Also on hand will be Ted Floyd, editor of Birding magazine and author of The Smithsonian Field Guide to North American Birds. "We are fortunate to have these world renowned birders present at this year’s festival," said Koshak.
Festival participants who plan to attend the outdoor tours are urged to dress appropriately and bring layered clothing to stay warm and dry. "The weather in southeastern Colorado is difficult to predict at this time of year, so it’s best to be prepared for all kinds of conditions," said Linda Groat, a wildlife education specialist. "We can have sunny days in the mid-60′s or wet weather with some snow. It’s best to be prepared for everything. The temperatures can change dramatically on the sunrise tours."
Organizers also suggest bringing a camera, binoculars, and a bird identification book. Groat also said the event has a variety of indoor sessions for those who might not want to brave the weather on the outdoor wildlife viewing tours.
Participants can pre-register at www.highplainssnowgoose.com. To inquire about festival activities, call (719) 336-4370.
INCREASING ABUNDANCE
Wildlife biologists estimate there are approximately six million lesser snow geese in North America divided into four distinct populations. The lesser snow geese that move through eastern Colorado are part of the Western Central Flyway population. The birds winter in southeastern Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, the Texas panhandle, and northern Mexico. In late spring, the birds form enormous flocks before they head back to their summer nesting grounds in the Canadian Arctic.
Lesser snow geese come in two different color phases within the same species. In the white phase, the geese are as white as snow except for the black wing tips. The other phase, called blue geese, is slate gray with a white head. Both have a dark "grinning patch" on the sides of their bill. Mixed in the flocks of snow geese you may find some Ross’ geese, which look very much like snow geese except that they are two-thirds the size of snow geese and do not have the grinning patch. Ross’ geese weigh between 3 – 4 pounds while snow geese weigh between 5 – 6 pounds.
In their arctic breeding grounds, snow geese graze on grass and sedges that grow on the tundra. While migrating through the prairies of North America, they also feed on leftover grain in the fields. In recent years, the burgeoning population of snow geese has been having such a detrimental effect on the fragile arctic tundra that harvest regulations have been relaxed in an effort to allow hunters to try to thin the flocks.
Biologists estimate that healthy, sustainable populations would have 800,000 to 1.2 million birds. The overcrowding of nesting areas has lead to the spread of avian diseases and habitat destruction.
Historically, there were very few light geese in Colorado – perhaps only a few thousand, according to DOW biologists. But their numbers have exploded over the past few decades.
HUNTING SNOW GEESE
In an effort to manage the exploding population, federal and state agencies have issued a conservation order that authorizes a special late light goose season that allows Colorado hunters to take an unlimited number of snow geese.
Snow goose hunters may use "unplugged" shotguns–guns capable of holding more than three shells–to aid in taking light geese during the special conservation order. Hunters are reminded that unplugged shotguns are permitted during the Light Goose Conservation Order season only and may not be used for any other species or season dates. Special conservation order hunting regulations remain in effect until April 30. Hunters who choose to remove plugs from their shotguns must replace them prior to next year’s fall hunting seasons.
Hunters interested in learning more, are invited to attend a snow goose hunting seminar Sat., Feb. 27, 1 – 4 p.m. at the Colorado Division of Wildlife Office at 2500 S. Main St. in Lamar. For more information, call (719) 336-6600.
For more information about Division of Wildlife go to: http://wildlife.state.co.us.
