Carbon County residents can enjoy the sights and sounds of thousands of pure white snow geese flying, feeding and resting at the annual Snow Goose Festival.
Snow geese may be viewed at and near Gunnison Bend Reservoir, west of Delta, during the festival, which runs March 5 and 6 and March 12 and 13.
Admission is free.
“Division of Wildlife Resources personnel will set spotting scopes up that people can use to get a close view of the geese, and we’ll be available to answer any questions people have,” said Bob Walters, Watchable Wildlife coordinator for the DWR.
Free wildlife-related workshops and arts, crafts and photography exhibits will be offered.
Walters encourages visitors to view the geese with binoculars or spotting scopes.
“People who get too close to the geese will probably scare them away, and that will spoil the viewing experience for everyone,” he said.
When viewing from roadways, visitors are strongly encouraged to use caution and to watch for vehicles. Walters also advises visitors to prepare for cold or wet weather by wearing the proper clothes.
Areas where people may see geese vary according to the time of day.
“The geese usually return to the reservoir before 10:30 a.m., after feeding in surrounding fields early in the morning,” Walters said. “They normally leave the reservoir, to feed in the fields again, between 4 and 6 p.m.”
He added that DWR personnel will watch which fields the geese fly to and will direct visitors, who arrive after the geese have left the reservoir, to the proper fields.
For more information, contact Walters at (801) 538-4771.
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