Snow Geese

I took this photo of a flock of several hundred Snow Geese (actually the more generic "white geese" is more accurate since though in all likelihood most are Snow Geese there may well be some Ross' Geese in there too) as I returned from the Snow Goose Festival today. I must admit that though there are Snow (white)Geese near Lamar as I noted in earlier posts, there are not large flocks. I found this larger flock in Otero County. In a more usual winter with less snow cover on the ground there would be thousands, probably tens of thousands of white geese in the Lamar area and other locations in SE Colorado.
SeEtta

Lamar Snow Goose Festival successful despite weather

I have been too busy to post due to getting some newspaper ads out for the Snow Goose Festival and then traveling to, participating in and attending events at the Snow Goose Festival. The weather presented a challenge--many had heard about the awful snows and unusually cold weather with a continuing snow cover in the area, and some of them were deterred from attending. Then for the past week the TV stations around Colorado have been forecasting potential blizzard conditions in SE Colorado.

Though there were blizzard conditions Saturday in some sections of eastern Colorado, the Lamar area was sheltered from much of it--there were awful high winds (though we still birded and had some great finds as I will put in a separate post) but only scattered and very light snow showers with no accumulation. But all the warnings kept a lot of folks from traveling to Lamar for the festival.

However we had a very successful Snow Goose Festival considering he above, with over 100 participants (not counting the many volunteers giving programs, leading trips and helping at the Festival) including more than 25 from the Denver metro area (around 200 miles away). Almost all the scheduled events in Lamar were held including 2 field trips Saturday and a sunrise tour this am. And the keynote speaker, Pete Dunne, was not only a fantastic speaker but a great birder.

SeEtta

Colo Birding Trail Launches at Snow Goose Fest Feb 23-25

Looking for something fun to do next week-end (not this upcoming week-end but the one after)? The Colorado Birding Trail will officially be launched at the High Plains Snow Goose Festival in Lamar February 23-25. And the keynote speaker is none other than Pete Dunne, Director of Cape May Bird Observatory and Vice-President for Natural History Information for the New Jersey Audubon Society. Pete, who has been awaded the American Birding Society Roger Tory Peterson Award for promoting the cause of birding, has written 9 books and numerous articles about birding and natural history.

And what a bargan--registration is $10 with charges of $5-15 for some of the tours (though the Raptor Tour with Pete Dunne carries a fee of $30, also a bargain compared to what other birding festivals and conventions charge for birding with such a big name leader). And the banquet is only $15 for adults!

There are lots of programs and tours, not just birding but some to/about local historical areas and also rock art. A great opportunity for couples or families with non-birders who would enjoy these other diversions. And the motel prices are quite reasonable. Check it out here and print a registration form too. Read articles about it here and here.

SeEtta