We're fresh back from the Freezout Lake Wildlife Management Area, near Fairfield and Choteau on the Rocky Mountain Front, where hundreds of thousands of snow geese and other waterfowl species stop each spring on their migration north.
At the time of our visit, there were about 100,000 snow geese and 1,400 tundra swans, most concentrated on Pond 5, according to a hot line run by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Call (406) 467-2646 for updates.
As we were driving from Fairfield the first thing we noticed was the V-shaped formations flying high above us, the geese on their way back from feeding in nearby fields that morning.
Once we arrived, the sights and sounds were truly incredible. What I thought was the frozen pond surface from a distance was, in fact, thousands of white birds crowded together. And there was a constant cacophony of squawks and buzz of wings.
Our first day there, we lucked out on the weather, the sky clearing almost upon our arrival after a night of early spring snow and wind. The next morning, however, the weather turned foul again. We stuck around long enough to catch the geese coming back in from the fields, then moved on to visit friends in Helena.
Check out the pictures here.
Distance: Several roads run through the wildlife management area, from which you can walk among the ponds.
Trailhead: From Fairfield, drive 4 miles north on U.S. Highway 89 to the main entrance and information kiosk.
