Penn Wood Family Hike

Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area

 Saturday March 17, 2007

Snow Geese and Tundra Swans, One of the Great North American Migrations

Dear Friends of Penn Wood,

We had a great experience together on Saturday, March 10th out at Middle Creek. The rising temperature gave clues to the spring we all want to arrive!  Forty-three members of our Penn Wood Community joined in the celebration of these magnificent birds. Created by the Pennsylvania Game Commission for the preservation and restoration of migratory waterfowl, Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area comprises over 6,000 acres of waterfowl habitat. Our visit this past week to Middle Creek revealed a bald eagle, and thousands of tundra swans and snow geese.  This is one of the great migration sights to be seen in North America!

 This group of snow geese most likely represents two families.  The young birds were born last summer and will make the return trip to the Arctic with their parents. This is not an easy trip for these birds, as their weight is at its lowest point, needing to graze and restore energy in the months ahead.

Close inspection of the sky reveals family subgroups moving on during this incredible journey.

The day provided families and staff members with a special view of these majestic birds and the responsibility that rests with all of us to insure their future.  The migration route north for these birds is a daunting task to reach the nesting spots along the Arctic Circle.  To be able to witness this amazing process is very special.  As parents and teachers, it is important to allow our children to experience the wonder of this migration.

We hope you will join us in March 2008 for our next Penn Wood visit to Middle Creek.

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