20th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Spring Snow Geese Migration

Every year, millions of snow geese migrate massive distances across the globe. One of their major stopover points is a marshy area in Eastern Montana called Freezout Lake. Having grown up in Montana, I'd heard about the epic spring stopover site my whole life but hadn't actually made the trip out to see it. It's an incredibly immersive experience as tens of thousands of geese fly close overhead, screaming their harsh calls into the blinding wind as they make their arduous journey north. When flocks take off from the ground, their movement is so massive and simultaneous, you can feel it in your feet.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 03.2021
Date Uploaded: 11.2022
Photo Location: Montana, United States of America
Copyright: © Brian Hoffman