The month of March begins to usher in spring, and with that comes the high-flying flocks of geese that are a fairly common sight in Pennsylvania — and that’s especially true of the Canada Goose.

Like a lot of other folks, I have seen a pretty good number of Canada geese going over, but on cloudy days you may not actually see them, but you can certainly hear them “conversing” as they pass by.

The common Canada Goose has a brownish body with a black head and long black neck with that very conspicuous white check patch, and the V-shaped flight formation is another dead giveaway.

When not in flight, Canada geese will often be seen in lakes, bays, ponds, rivers, and marshes. If you don’t spot them in the sky overhead or in the water, they will likely be feeding in open grasslands or stubble fields.

While the Canada Goose is our most commonly seen goose passing through each spring and fall, it’s possible you may also get a look at some large flocks of the less commonly spotted Snow Goose.

The Snow Goose is a bit smaller than the Canada Goose, and it is pure white with black wing tips and a pink bill with a black “lip.” I have yet to spot any this March, but I have seen some large flocks going over in years past.

The Snow Goose does not form the usual V-shaped pattern like the Canada Goose, but rather they fly in shifting curved lines and arcs, and they sometimes fly so high they can barely be seen.

When not in flight, they can be seen in freshwater marshes and nearby adjacent grain fields. A few years ago, I spotted a good number of Snow geese not far from Muncy, feeding in a field near a small stream.

Snow geese are most frequently seen in Pennsylvania during their spring migration as they move from their wintering grounds along the Atlantic coast to their breeding grounds in the Canadian Arctic.

If you are really interested in seeing some Snow geese, now is a good time to head south to the Middle Creek Wildlife Management area located on the border of Lancaster and Lebanon counties. This is the premier destination in Pennsylvania for viewing the migration of these birds. There is a large lake surrounded by fields, and the geese will typically roost on the water overnight and take flight in a sudden “bird tornado” shortly after sunrise to feed in nearby farm fields. At its peak, you may see up to 200,000 snow geese at once!

Besides the lake and the natural beauty around the Middle Creek Wildlife Management facility, there is also a good-sized nature center with a number of wildlife displays and exhibits featuring local wildlife. There are plenty of great viewing areas along the lake and hiking trails. In the meantime, if you can’t make it to Middle Creek, then keep your eyes open-it’s still not too late to spot some of those Snow geese flying over our neighborhood.