Team Snow Goose

While at the Bosque del Apache Crane Pool this morning, I had the opportunity to watch the U.S. Snow Goose Flight Team from the tundra of Northern Alaska, as they ran through their formation drills with their coach barking orders from the rear.  Their take-off was a bit sloppy and the coach was unhappy.  They will have tough competition from Snow Goose Team Canada, so need to be at their very best before they begin their marathon flight. 

Actually, I don’t know if these Snow Geese are from the US or Canada, but each year 10’s of thousands of them fly a narrow migration path from northern Alaska and Canada to winter at the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in southern New Mexico.  Some of them have started the return trip, but fortunately for me, there are still plenty here. 

I went before sunrise this morning and waited at the “flight deck” with the other photographers and birders for the “take off.”  When it happened it was unbelievable.  Just a little before sunrise there was this loud noise that sounded like a train and then suddenly, thousands of them took flight. What a racket!  I have added more photos to the Flickr Album.