The snow geese population at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area dipped to 35,000 midday Friday, cut in half from numbers earlier in the week.
Friday morning, Middle Creek staff counted only 2,500 snow geese in the water, but the number rose by tens of thousands as the day wore on.
“Fluctuation in flock size is not abnormal, and numbers can rise or fall in no time at all. Whether the geese have found other areas to roost for the night or have continued north is up for speculation,” Middle Creek staff wrote in the Friday count update.
The birds started to arrive at the area lake over the weekend of Feb. 21-22, after icy waters and frozen vegetation left snow geese lingering south for longer than usual.
The tundra swan count rose to 600 swans Friday afternoon, and the number of Canada geese remained stagnant at 50 from the first count of the season, though birders can catch sights of several hundred more in the agricultural fields in and around the Wildlife Management Area, according to Middle Creek’s update.
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Snow geese begin a mass blastoff after bald eagles fly nearby on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026. After an estimated three week delay due to cold temperatures, 60,000 geese arrived on the reservoir this week.
An American Bald Eagle perched on a tree with snow geese landing in the background on Feb. 25, 2026. The arrival of the eagle caused a mass blastoff from the lake.
Snow geese in flight at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026. After an estimated three week delay due to cold temperatures, 60,000 geese arrived on the reservoir this week.
Snow geese arrive from the fields as dusk falls at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026. After an estimated three week delay due to cold temperatures, 60,000 geese arrived on the reservoir this week.
Visitors observe the snow goose migration at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026. After an estimated three week delay due to cold temperatures, 60,000 geese arrived on the reservoir this week.
An American Bald Eagle lands on a tree near the snow geese on Feb. 25, 2026. The arrival of the eagle caused a mass blastoff from the lake.
A pair of American Bald Eagles watch flocks of snow geese flying to Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area on Feb. 25, 2026. The arrival of the eagles caused a mass blastoff of snow geese from the lake.
Tundra Swans arrive at the reservoir at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026. According to the Middle Creek Website, 550 Tundra Swans had migrated to the lake as of 2/24/26.
Tundra Swans arrive at the reservoir at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026. According to the Middle Creek Website, 550 Tundra Swans had migrated to the lake as of 2/24/26.
An American Bald Eagle perched on a tree at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area on Feb. 25, 2026. The arrival of the eagle caused a mass blastoff of snow geese from the lake.
A mass blastoff of Snow geese at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026. After an estimated three week delay due to cold temperatures, 60,000 geese arrived on the reservoir this week.
Migrating snow geese land at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026. After an estimated three week delay due to cold temperatures, 60,000 geese arrived on the reservoir this week.
Despite recent warmer temperatures, the majority of the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area reservoir remains frozen as of Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026. After an estimated three week delay due to cold temperatures, 60,000 geese arrived on the reservoir this week.
A Canda Goose arrives at the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026. According to the Middle Creek Website, 50 Canada Geese had migrated to the lake as of 2/24/26.
Snow geese begin a mass blastoff after bald eagles fly nearby on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026. After an estimated three week delay due to cold temperatures, 60,000 geese arrived on the reservoir this week.
An American Bald Eagle perched on a tree with snow geese landing in the background on Feb. 25, 2026. The arrival of the eagle caused a mass blastoff from the lake.
Snow geese in flight at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026. After an estimated three week delay due to cold temperatures, 60,000 geese arrived on the reservoir this week.
Snow geese arrive from the fields as dusk falls at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026. After an estimated three week delay due to cold temperatures, 60,000 geese arrived on the reservoir this week.
Visitors observe the snow goose migration at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026. After an estimated three week delay due to cold temperatures, 60,000 geese arrived on the reservoir this week.
An American Bald Eagle lands on a tree near the snow geese on Feb. 25, 2026. The arrival of the eagle caused a mass blastoff from the lake.
A pair of American Bald Eagles watch flocks of snow geese flying to Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area on Feb. 25, 2026. The arrival of the eagles caused a mass blastoff of snow geese from the lake.
Tundra Swans arrive at the reservoir at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026. According to the Middle Creek Website, 550 Tundra Swans had migrated to the lake as of 2/24/26.
Tundra Swans arrive at the reservoir at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026. According to the Middle Creek Website, 550 Tundra Swans had migrated to the lake as of 2/24/26.
An American Bald Eagle perched on a tree at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area on Feb. 25, 2026. The arrival of the eagle caused a mass blastoff of snow geese from the lake.
A mass blastoff of Snow geese at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026. After an estimated three week delay due to cold temperatures, 60,000 geese arrived on the reservoir this week.
Migrating snow geese land at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026. After an estimated three week delay due to cold temperatures, 60,000 geese arrived on the reservoir this week.
Despite recent warmer temperatures, the majority of the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area reservoir remains frozen as of Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026. After an estimated three week delay due to cold temperatures, 60,000 geese arrived on the reservoir this week.
A Canda Goose arrives at the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026. According to the Middle Creek Website, 50 Canada Geese had migrated to the lake as of 2/24/26.
People can watch a 24-hour livestream to catch a glimpse of resting flocks at Middle Creek at lanc.news/SnowGeeseLive.
Snow geese visit Middle Creek annually to rest during their journey north to their summer Arctic breeding grounds. Middle Creek typically sees up to 200,000 snow geese and thousands of tundra swans every year, according to a recent Middle Creek press release. Migration can begin as early as January but typically peaks in February and March.
Middle Creek’s Visitor Center, at 100 Museum Road, Stevens, is currently open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.
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