Gail Kershner, left, and John Trezona, both of Hegins, Schuylkill County, look at a large flock of snow geese on the water at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area on Monday. A state Game Commission expert estimated the number of snow geese at 65,000, with an additional 1,200 tundra swans paying a visit. (LEBANON DAILY NEWS EARL BRIGHTBILL)
'Tis the time of year to watch birds at Middle Creek.

Bert Myers, an environmental education specialist with the state Game Commission, estimated Monday that there are currently about 65,000 snow geese and 1,200 tundra swans at the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area.

"It is quite a spectacular view," he said.

Snow geese stop at Middle Creek around this time each year on their way from their wintering grounds in the Chesapeake Bay region to their Arctic nesting grounds.

Myers said the number of snow geese that visit Middle Creek varies from year to year. The highest ever was about 180,000, and last year it was about 80,000.

Many of the migrating waterfowl that come to Middle Creek usually begin to push north in conjunction

Snow geese search for food on the grounds of Middle Creek on Tuesday. The birds generally stop here en route from their wintering grounds a state or two to the south to their Arctic nesting grounds. (LEBANON DAILY NEWS EARL BRIGHTBILL)
with spring thaw, according to the Game Commission website, pgc.state.pa.us. During extreme winters with a late thaw, however, there's always a chance waterfowl will fly over Middle Creek or stop only briefly.

"A lot of it has to do with access to open water and food sources," Myers said.

Snow geese first showed up at Middle Creek in 1993, when about 3,000 arrived at the 6,254-acre preserve that straddles the Lebanon-Lancaster border near Kleinfeltersville.

The number of snow geese that flock to Middle Creek continues to grow as the snow goose population itself grows. In 1960, the Atlantic Flyway had about 50,000 snow geese. Today, that number is near 1 million. Biologists predict the population could increase to 3 million by 2020.

In addition to the snow geese and tundra swans, there are also a variety of duck species as well as Canada geese present at Middle Creek, Myers said.

"This is the time of year we see all kinds of stuff," he said. "This is also a good time to keep your eyes open for bald eagles. We have a mature pair here, but we've also seen some juveniles flying around, too."

Myers said the best time to observe the birds is daybreak or dusk.

"In the morning they leave to go out and feed,

With his parents, Sandy and Jeff, standing behind him, 6-year-old Hayden Milchanowski of Lititz takes a closer look at the distant snow geese at Middle Creek on Tuesday. (LEBANON DAILY NEWS EARL BRIGHTBILL)
and at night they come back to roost," he said.

For now, birdwatchers will have to stick to the area near the visitors' center. However, Middle Creek's inside tour roads will open Thursday, weather-permitting, Myers said.

"That's going to give folks more access to the inside area," he said.

Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area straddles the Lebanon-Lancaster border near Kleinfeltersville. The visitor center is along Hopeland Road and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.

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