What a difference a few days can make! We've seen a steady increase in snow geese throughout the week with about 12,000 on Wednesday, 20,000 on Thursday, and 46,000 as of Friday morning!

Signs of other migrating species and early spring are definitely in the air. This week we've started seeing and hearing American Woodcock doing their “peent" calls and their rapidly chirping flight displays in the evenings.

This weekend will be cold but next week has a rapid warm up with temperatures pushing close to 60 degrees. Waterfowl will continue to be on the move throughout the week so it'll be interesting to see if numbers increase into next week. Only time will tell!

Even though it will be cold this weekend, the Visitor Center is a great place to learn and warm up! Also as a reminder for visitors coming to Middle Creek this weekend, the Lancaster County Bird Club will again be operating their concession stand in the Visitors Center. They will offer a variety of food options on weekends in conjunction with the Visitor Center hours through Sunday, March 3, 2024. A birding ambassador from the club will also be available at the viewing area overlooking the feeders in the Visitor Center to help visitors identify birds and share information on birding. Purchases from the concession stand help supplement this non-profit organization's annual donations to Middle Creek which include keeping the Visitors Center bird feeders full.​

Have a great weekend!

February 20,​ 2024

It's been an interesting spring migration so far this year and overall below average numbers of all waterfowl species at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area, but it's not over!

We've been receiving a lot of questions about where are all the snow geese? Why are their numbers so low this year? Rest easy, their populations are not declining. Regionally there are a lot of snow geese currently on the landscape but they are spread out far and wide hence no large 150,000 to 200,000 bird concentrations we've seen in previous years. Due to above average temperatures, most roosting bodies of water are not froze and have not had much sustained ice throughout the winter. You also need to get north of Lake Ontario to see any significant snow which would impact any feeding opportunities in fields. There are still some decent sized reports of snow geese to our south so more are in the potential pipeline but there are also significant numbers of snow geese being reported to the north already. The next two weeks have above normal temperatures so there's a good chance southerly wind days will have birds on the move.

One species of bird that seems to be above average this winter at Middle Creek are bald eagles. This morning there were 14 eagles on some ice that formed overnight on the main lake with recent reports of 20+ eagles on the overall property in the past few days! It's a good opportunity to see the complex various immature feather plumages of bald eagles which encompass the 1 to 4 year old birds. It takes bald eagles about 5 years to fully show their adult definitive plumage, but be careful because some 4 year old eagles can look very similar.

Overall lower numbers of snow geese leads to lower number of visitors so if you'd like to experience Middle Creek with less people while still getting to see some spring time visiting wildlife species, now is a good time to come!

We'll provide another update on Friday! Happy wildlife viewing!

Duck Species: American Black Duck, Mallard, and Common Merganser are the most abundant but also Gadwall, American Wigeon, Ring-necked Duck, Green-winged Teal, Pintail, Northern Shoveler, Hooded Merganser, Wood Duck, and Ruddy Duck have recently been seen.

February 16, 2024

What a difference the weather can make! After the snow on Tuesday, cold temperatures have created a crusty layer of icy snow on most of the fields around Middle Creek. While our main lake is unfrozen, the covered fields have made it difficult for waterfowl to feed, causing them to fly further to find food. This is most likely why their numbers have decreased locally.

On top of the snow covered fields, the high winds this morning had most other waterfowl species like ducks and Canada geese seeking refuge in small ponds.

Fortunately, for the birds that have decided to stay, with open water, that means the small ponds that we perform "drawdowns" on have a lot of food such as aquatic plants and seeds. You can learn more about the wetland habitat work we do here.

So what can you expect for the weekend? It's hard to say. Without much change in weather patterns, probably much of the same. But if you have not made the trip to Middle Creek, this may be a good weekend to come. Without knowing what the future holds, seeing nearly 10,000 snow geese is still exciting!

For visitors coming to Middle Creek this weekend, Lancaster County Bird Club will begin operating their concession stand in the Visitors Center starting on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024. They will offer a variety of food options on weekends in conjunction with the Visitor Center hours through Sunday, March 3, 2024. A birding ambassador from the club will also be available at the viewing area overlooking the feeders in the Visitor Center to help visitors identify birds and share information on birding. Purchases from the concession stand help supplement this non-profit organization’s annual donations to Middle Creek which include keeping the Visitors Center bird feeders full.,

Snow Geese: 8.500
Tundra Swans: 87
Canada Geese: 175 in main areas that are usually counted; many birds are most likely on interior ponds and coves

February 14, 2024

Happy Valentine's Day!

Our count yesterday was delayed due to weather and as to be expected, numbers have dropped due to the snow the area received.

Here are some fun Valentine's Day facts for you:

Did you know that tundra swans, snow geese and Canada geese mate for life? If one of the pair is lost or dies however, they will usually find a new partner. These three species are not dimorphic, meaning the males and females look nearly identical.

Ducks on the other hand only form seasonal pair bonds during the breeding season. They will seek out a new mate each year, only choosing ones who can help pass on strong genes to a new generation. Male and female ducks are dimorphic meaning the male looks different than the female. The male usually has very colorful plumage to attract the female while the female usually has brown and drabby plumage to help them blend in with their environment, especially during nesting season.

Its a little early to tell what the next few days will look like with the migration. Did some birds push north through the storm into northern New York where they received little to no snow? Or did they push south again back into the Chesapeake Bay? Check back on Friday for updated numbers for the weekend.

Snow Geese: 23,000
Tundra Swans: 105
Canada Geese: 1,300

February 9, 2024

As expected, numbers of snow geese and Canada geese continue to climb. We have seen a small dip in tundra swans but overall, it is safe to say the migration is in full swing. 

Numbers of snow geese in the Chesapeake Bay have started to decrease but without major snow cover until Canada, snow geese will continue to move north to the Finger Lakes in New York. Tens of thousands of snow geese have already been reported there this past week. 

What does that mean for Middle Creek? Numbers can rise and fall very quickly, so we suggest making plans to visit the snow geese soon if it was on your list of things to do this year. Remember, weekends are the busiest times at Middle Creek, so coming during the week, if possible, will be a less crowded experience. Mornings (at sunrise)  and afternoon to sunset is the best time to see the snow geese with the mornings being the least crowded. 

You can learn more quick facts about snow geese and how to navigate around Middle Creek during your visit by checking out our informational video here.

Snow Goose: 47,000
Tundra Swans: 415
Canada Geese: 2,300

Peak numbers of the large waterfowl, by species and the date the high-count was recorded:
      Snow geese: 79,000 on 01/31/23
      Tundra swans: 1,950 on 01/31/23
      Canada geese: 2,250 on 02/17/23 

2022 Migration Summary:
Peak numbers of the large waterfowl, by species and the date the high-count was recorded:
      Snow geese: 105,000 on 02/25/22
      Tundra swans: 4,500 on 02/28/22
      Canada geese: 3,500 on 02/07/22 

2021 Migration Summary:
Peak numbers of the large waterfowl, by species and the date the high-count was recorded:
      Snow geese: 120,000 on 03/08/21
      Tundra swans: 1,050 on 03/08/21
      Canada geese: 2,500 on 03/12/21   

2020 Migration Summary:
Peak numbers of the large waterfowl, by species and the date the high-count was recorded:
      Snow geese: 125,000 on 02/18/20
      Tundra swans: 3,000 on 02/07/20
      Canada geese: 3,000 on 02/03/20   

2019 Migration Summary:
Peak numbers of the large waterfowl, by species and the date the high-count was recorded:
      Snow geese: 150,000 on 03/12/19
      Tundra swans: 5,000 on 03/04/19
      Canada geese: 3,000 on 03/04/19   

2018 Migration Summary:
Peak numbers of the large waterfowl, by species and the date the high-count was recorded:
      Snow geese: 200,000 on 02/21/18 (largest number on record)
      Tundra swans: 5,500 on 02/22/18
      Canada geese: 7,500+ on 02/15/18

2017 Migration Summary:
Peak numbers of the large waterfowl, by species and the date the high-count was recorded:
     Snow geese: 70,000+ on 02/22/17
     Tundra swans: 4,500+ on 02/6/17
     Canada geese: 5,000+ on 02/10/17

MIGRATION BACKGROUND: The period that annually attracts the most birds, and visitors, remains late winter. During this timeframe, large numbers of migrating waterfowl normally appear. In recent years, more than 100,000 snow geese, 10,000 tundra swans, 10,000 Canada geese, and a wide variety of ducks have stopped at Middle Creek while pushing north to their breeding grounds. It's also a great place to see northern harriers, or "marsh hawks," nesting and immature bald eagles, and more common creatures such as white-tailed deer and red-tailed hawks.

There are many variables that determine the arrival of migrating waterfowl. The most significant is icing. When the ice on the main impoundment thaws to create areas of open water, the birds begin to arrive. Snow cover on the surrounding agricultural fields also influences the arrival waterfowl because it can limit access to the waste grains these birds depend on for food. Therefore, areas of open water and limited or no snow cover on adjacent fields strongly influence Middle Creek's drawing and holding power for migrants.

Many of the migrants that come to Middle Creek winter south of Pennsylvania and usually begin to push north in conjunction with spring thaw. During extreme winters with a late thaw, however, there's always a chance waterfowl will fly over Middle Creek, or stop only briefly. Timing is critical for migration and nesting.

Exactly when birds arrive can be difficult to predict. Generally, the birds, when conditions permit, begin to arrive in late February or early March. For those planning a trip to Middle Creek, the first weekend in March would be a good time to visit. A map of the area is available at the Visitors Center, as are the latest updates and bird sightings. Make sure to bring along binoculars, and field guide to help identify some of the birds you'll see. Warm clothes also an important consideration if you plan to drive with your windows open. A camera also is usually worth taking, because sometimes tremendous photo opportunities arise at Middle Creek.

After stopping by the Center, visitors follow the self-guided driving tour to Stop #1, located at the lower end of the lake. This is normally an excellent site to view tundra swans. Another suggestion would be to hike to Willow Point. At dusk or dawn, this provides the best vantage for snow geese. To fully appreciate Middle Creek, a drive through the interior on the Tour Road shouldn't be missed. Weather and driving conditions permitting, the Tour Road will open March 1. A significant portion of the interior remains Propagation Area where entry is prohibited. It is because of the Propagation Area that waterfowl are attracted to Middle Creek. Within these areas, the habitat and lack of human disturbance remain the primary reason why Middle Creek has become such a vital stop to migrating waterfowl.