Carl Walsh Photography
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With the arrival of spring, things on the planet start to move. Two North American bird species, the sandhill crane and snow geese, have massive migrations through the United States, on their way to home ranges in the north. Wildlife managers estimate that 650,000 sandhill cranes take up residence for a few weeks in late March, along 80 miles of the Platte River in Central Nebraska. Here they rest and eat before resuming their flight to the northern US, Canada, Alaska and Siberia. Snow Geese, who winter in the Chesapeake region, stop and recharge at open water lakes, including the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area in eastern Pennsylvania. As many as 200,000 geese have congregated there, and produce an extraordinary spectacle when they commence massive group flights. Both are prime examples of nature at work and are a marvel to witness.
Dozens of sandhill cranes fly from a Nebraska cornfield at sunrise during their annual spring northward migration stopover in the state. 650,000, the vast majority of the specie's world population, return through the region on the way to their summer range in the northern US, Canada, Alaska and Siberia.
Sandhill cranes fly at dawn, from Nebraska's Platte River, where they spend the night, to the cornfields where they feed daily, during their annual migration stopover in the state.
Sandhill cranes fly at dawn, from Nebraska's Platte River, where they spend nights, to the cornfields where they feed daily, during their annual migration stopover in the state.
Sandhill cranes ready to land in a Nebraska cornfield to feed during their annual northward spring migration stop in the state.
A trio of sandhill cranes fly beneath the sun during their annual spring, northward migration migration through Nebraska.
Two sandhill cranes frolic in the water of the Platte River during their annual northward spring migration through the state.
A lone sandhill crane flies past the setting sun, while heading back to the Platte River where the majority of the 650,000 migrating cranes spend the night.
Sandhill cranes perform their customary dance, done by both males and females, in both breeding and non breeding seasons for bonding purposes. Cranes will entice others to participate, sometimes grabbing an object, like a cornstalk and throwing it into the air as they leap.
Sandhill cranes fly across the rising full moon during their annual migration through Nebraska. 650,000, the vast majority of the specie's world population, stopover in the state to rest and feed before returning to their summer homes in the northern US, Canada, Alaska and Siberia.
Some of thousands of snow geese fly at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area in eastern Pennsylvania during a migration stopover for the Arctic water fowl in March.
Tens of thousands of snow geese fly en-masse at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area in eastern, Pennsylvania during a spring migration stopover in March. Calculated using high definition aerial photography and a computer software count, wildlife managers determined that the peak number of the Arctic waterfowl for the 2021 migration was 120,000.
With the jet stream of an airliner above and six tundra swans below, hundreds of snow geese arrive at Middle Creek Wildlife Management area in eastern Pennsylvania, during their spring northward migration. The geese, with 2021 peak numbers of 120,000 at Middle Creek, were moving from their winter home in the Chesapeake region to their Arctic home range.
Thousands of snow geese fly over four tundra swan, on a frozen portion of a lake at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area in eastern, Pennsylvania in March. Calculated using high definition aerial photography and a computer software count, wildlife managers determined that the peak number of the Arctic waterfowl for the 2021 migration was 120,000.
Snow geese swim and fly at dawn during a spring, northward migration stopover at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area in eastern Pennsylvania.
Snow geese, amongst a group numbering in the tens of thousands, fly en-masse from an eastern Pennsylvania field where they were feeding during a spring migration stop in March. Without any apparent signal the group stopped feeding, and in precise unison, flew away. Calculated using high definition aerial photography and a computer software count, 120,000 of the arctic waterfowl was the peak gathering at Middle Creek Wildlife Mgmt. Area in 2021.
Snow geese swim, at dawn, in a lake at Middle Creek Wildlife Management area in Pennsylvania during a spring migration stopover, before resuming their journey to their Arctic home range.
Snow geese fly in pairs at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area in Pennsylvania during a spring migration stopover. They also mate for life and face the challenge of not losing one another when flying amongst groups sometimes numbering over 100,000 birds.
Some of thousands of snow geese fly at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area in eastern Pennsylvania during a migration stopover for the Arctic water fowl in March.
Snow geese fly from lake to field, to feed, at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area in eastern, Pennsylvania during a spring, northern migration stop in March.
Snow geese land in a field to feed during a spring, northward migration stopover at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area in eastern Pennsylvania.
Snow geese fly in front of the the rising sun at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area in eastern, Pennsylvania. Wintering in the Chesapeake region, the arctic waterfowl were migrating back to their home range.
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