As we left the snowy landscape of Metro Denver yesterday morning, a full moon gleamed above the Front Range. Once past the Palmer Divide, the snow cover gradually diminished and, except for residual drifts along the highway, had disappeared by the time we entered Kansas. However, as I discussed on February 6, the snow blanket reappeared near Wakeeney and then steadily vanished as we descended toward Hays.
For the remainder of our journey, a brown landscape and gray sky set the scene; only the aerial ballets of starlings, the agile swoop of harriers and the reliable presence of red-tails broke the monotony. Then, just east of Russell, Kansas, my first glimpse of snow geese during this "spring" migration season erased my boredom as a wavering flock crossed the bleak winter sky, headed toward their Arctic breeding grounds. A second flock appeared near Salina and a third, much larger flock graced the sky in eastern Kansas.
Darkness negated any sightings in Missouri but, over the next six weeks, I'll hear and see many more flocks of these vocal travelers, the vanguard of our gathering spring. While the season of snow has yet to run it course, snow geese carry the hope of warmer, fragrant and colorful days ahead.
