Livestream of the migration at Middle Creek
This livestream from Willow Point at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area in Lancaster County is brought to you by the Pennsylvania Game Commission and HDOnTap. The best times to view snow geese on the lake are sunrise (before they leave to feed in neighboring fields) and sunset (as they return from feeding to roost). Other species of waterfowl including tundra swans, Canada geese, and many species of ducks can be viewed throughout the day.
- Learn more about the snow geese migration at Middle Creek in this webinar.
Middle Creek Snow Goose Migration
Watch and Overview of the Middle Creek Snow Goose Migration
Virtual Hike to Middle Creek's Willow Point
Take a virtual trip down the easy, 0.4-mile, paved path to Willow Point with Middle Creek staff.
View periodic estimates of the numbers of various waterfowl visiting and annual summaries below.
ADVISORY: Please note that these numbers are estimates and subject to rapid and dramatic change. Major weather events including snow and freezing temperatures can quickly impact the number of birds that can be found at Middle Creek. These updates are submitted by Middle Creek Staff.
2025 Migration Updates
February 18th, 2025:
This weekend’s windy weather doesn’t seem to be affecting the migration as new flocks of snow geese continue to pour in to the lake here at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area. During this morning’s count, several family groups continued to move in and gather in tight groupings on the lake. While this made counting tricky, it allowed the snow geese to keep warm in the frigid early morning temps.
Many people have inquired about the best location to see the snow geese with the ongoing closures at Middle Creek. The vista along the Conservation Trail, directly in front of the Visitors Center, provides the best overview of the main lake. Large groups of snow geese can still be seen in their tornado display as they arrive at and leave the lake. Check out our Hiking Trails Brochure or the Visitors Center for more information.
Additional bird species sighted include American black duck, mallard, northern shoveler, northern pintail, ring-necked duck, bald eagle, and ring-billed gull.
Keep an eye on our regularly updated counts on this page to see how the migration is shaping up and the HDonTap camera for real-time updates.
As a reminder, our visitors center is open Tuesday to Saturday 8 am-4 pm and Sunday 12 pm-5 pm. All wooded hiking trails remain open as well.
- Snow Geese: 100,000
- Tundra Swans: 715
- Canada Geese: 665
February 14th, 2025:
Each year, Middle Creek welcomes thousands of migratory birds that draw thousands of visitors from all walks of life. People travel from across the world to witness the incredible spectacle of the Middle Creek spring snow goose migration. On Valentine’s Day, we celebrate how the love of nature and wildlife brings us together.
Although this week brought cold temperatures that made us want to bundle up and stay inside, it seemed to attract these winter birds to the Middle Creek Management Area. With the continuation of snow melting off nearby fields, we see an increase in snow geese feeding locally throughout the day.
Keep an eye on our regularly updated counts on this page to see how the migration is shaping up and the HDonTap camera for real-time updates.
Additional waterfowl have also enjoyed the open water on the lake. Duck species spotted include mallards, American black ducks, and common mergansers.
As a reminder, our visitors center is open Tuesday to Saturday 8 am-4 pm and Sunday 12 pm-5 pm. All wooded hiking trails remain open as well.
- Snow Geese: 78,000
- Tundra Swans: 710
- Canada Geese: 940
February 11th, 2025:
Snow geese numbers are continuing to rise here at Middle Creek! At this time last year, there were about 8,000 geese on the main lake, and with the latest count this morning, there are almost six times that many geese! The main lake is slowly starting to thaw, with the pocket of open water growing and allowing for more room to roost.
With winter weather forecasted for this week, we may see a fluctuation of snow goose numbers on the lake. Strong storms pushing from the south may guide them further north and closer to their Arctic breeding grounds. Keep an eye on the HDonTap camera for real-time updates.
With more open water available, there has been an uptick in migratory waterfowl utilizing the lake including American black duck, mallard, American wigeon, northern pintail, gadwall, common merganser, ring-necked duck, and greater white-fronted goose.
Keep an eye on our regularly updated counts on this page to see how the migration is shaping up.
As a reminder, our visitors center is open Tuesday to Saturday 8 am-4 pm and Sunday 12 pm-5 pm. All wooded hiking trails remain open as well.
- Snow Geese: 52,000
- Tundra Swans: 320
- Canada Geese: 630
February 7th, 2025:
Welcome to the 2025 Spring waterfowl migration season at Middle Creek!
This winter has been the first near-average winter in the last several years, resulting in what would be a “typical” spring migration. We saw a few flocks of tundra swans and snow geese earlier in the year, but these flocks were quickly pushed out of Middle Creek due to snow on fields, preventing feeding and several inches of ice on the main lake and other impoundments on the property, preventing roosting.
Just as the lake was beginning to open and snow geese were making their way to Middle Creek, our region experienced an outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), resulting in hundreds of deceased snow geese and other species. As an agency, the Pennsylvania Game Commission had to make some hard decisions to keep the public safe and reduce the risk of spreading the virus to commercial and home poultry flocks. This resulted in certain areas in the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area closing to the public.
Regardless of these closures, population and migration data is still crucial to collect and important information to share with our followers. We will continue to count the migrating waterfowl as they pass through Middle Creek and post these updates to our website. We encourage our followers to enjoy the migration virtually via the HDontap Camera on our website. If you do travel out to Middle Creek in the coming weeks, please note that access points and trails around the lake are still closed to the public and visitors are HIGHLY advised to remain in their vehicles while viewing wildlife on the property. The presence of sick and deceased waterfowl on the main lake during this morning’s count reaffirms the need for these closures and an ongoing risk of transmission with large populations utilizing the lake. To learn more about Middle Creek’s closed areas, please read the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s News Release.
Keep an eye on our regularly updated counts on this page to see how the migration is shaping up. As a reminder, our visitors center is open Tuesday to Saturday 8am-4pm and Sunday 12pm-5pm. All wooded hiking trails remain open as well.
- Snow Geese: 35,000
- Tundra Swans: 575
- Canada Geese: 800
MIGRATION BACKGROUND
The period that annually attracts the most birds, and visitors, remains late winter. During this timeframe, large numbers of migrating waterfowl normally appear. In recent years, more than 100,000 snow geese, 10,000 tundra swans, 10,000 Canada geese, and a wide variety of ducks have stopped at Middle Creek while pushing north to their breeding grounds. It's also a great place to see northern harriers, or "marsh hawks," nesting and immature bald eagles, and more common creatures such as white-tailed deer and red-tailed hawks.
There are many variables that determine the arrival of migrating waterfowl. The most significant is icing. When the ice on the main impoundment thaws to create areas of open water, the birds begin to arrive. Snow cover on the surrounding agricultural fields also influences the arrival waterfowl because it can limit access to the waste grains these birds depend on for food. Therefore, areas of open water and limited or no snow cover on adjacent fields strongly influence Middle Creek's drawing and holding power for migrants.
Many of the migrants that come to Middle Creek winter south of Pennsylvania and usually begin to push north in conjunction with spring thaw. During extreme winters with a late thaw, however, there's always a chance waterfowl will fly over Middle Creek, or stop only briefly. Timing is critical for migration and nesting.
Exactly when birds arrive can be difficult to predict. Generally, the birds, when conditions permit, begin to arrive in late February or early March. For those planning a trip to Middle Creek, the first weekend in March would be a good time to visit. A map of the area is available at the Visitors Center, as are the latest updates and bird sightings. Make sure to bring along binoculars, and field guide to help identify some of the birds you'll see. Warm clothes also an important consideration if you plan to drive with your windows open. A camera also is usually worth taking, because sometimes tremendous photo opportunities arise at Middle Creek.
After stopping by the Center, visitors follow the self-guided driving tour to Stop #1, located at the lower end of the lake. This is normally an excellent site to view tundra swans. Another suggestion would be to hike to Willow Point. At dusk or dawn, this provides the best vantage for snow geese. To fully appreciate Middle Creek, a drive through the interior on the Tour Road shouldn't be missed. Weather and driving conditions permitting, the Tour Road will open March 1. A significant portion of the interior remains Propagation Area where entry is prohibited. It is because of the Propagation Area that waterfowl are attracted to Middle Creek. Within these areas, the habitat and lack of human disturbance remain the primary reason why Middle Creek has become such a vital stop to migrating waterfowl.