Foggy at Freezout Lake

We took a long weekend and spent part of it across the Continental Divide, checking out the spring waterfowl migration at Freezout Lake Wildlife Management Area between Fairfield and Choteau.

While halfway decent weather and more than 50,000 snow geese were in the forecast before we left, we found a lot of fog and fewer birds. Still, the trip was worth it for the ease of viewing and the species present.



Freezout offers several roads and trails among the main lake and a series of ponds on the plains just east of the Rocky Mountain Front. Every year in mid- to late March thousands of snow geese stop in the area on the migration north. Several other species can be seen, as well, including Canada geese, tundra swans, American white pelicans, northern pintails, great blue herons and more.



The last time we visited Freezout, more snow geese were passing through and the lake and ponds were still partially frozen, concentrating the birds on open water. This time, a Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks representative told us, the fog kept what geese there were in nearby fields. We saw a number of species, but overall numbers were low.



If you're thinking of visiting Freezout, check the spring waterfowl hot line at (406) 467-2646.

See pictures from Freezout Lake here.

Distance: Several roads run through the wildlife management area, from which you can walk among the lake and ponds.

Trailhead: From Fairfield, drive 4 miles north on U.S. Highway 89 to the main entrance and information kiosk.

Watch the watefowl

Here's a video I shot for the newspaper on our recent trip to see the spring waterfowl migration at the Freezout Lake Wildlife Management Area, near Fairfield and Choteau.

The sound is really what makes it, so be sure your speakers are on.

Freezout flocks

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.