After a month-long vigil, I finally encountered snow geese yesterday afternoon. A flock of about 450 were swirling above farm fields east of Columbia; they were either looking for a good spot to settle down or departing for their next rest stop to our south.
A series of cold fronts encouraged their journey through central Missouri and they will likely head for marshlands along the Lower Mississippi Valley or northwestern Gulf Coast for the winter. Depending on weather conditions and the availability of food, they may not travel that far south.
Perhaps most inspiring when their wavering white lines shimmer against a deep blue sky, these migrants caught and held my attention despite the gray, misty weather; they had already come a long way from the Arctic tundra and were certainly unfazed by the chilly drizzle. I hope to encounter more of these magnificent travelers in the coming weeks.
