Snow goose fly by
One of the most evocative of Arctic spectacles and sounds is the migration of huge flocks of snow geese travelling south to the southern states of the USA for the winter. John Aitchison films their dramatic arrival in Hudson Bay, a stop off on their journey from the Arctic.
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John Aitchison enjoys the spectacle.
Snow goose migration is totally weather dependent and geese wait for a suitable northerly wind to help them on their way. While the weather is calm or the wind is against them they feed, bathe and rest but when the north wind blows they take to the air and the sky is alive with birds.
Flocks can extend from horizon to horizon, taking many hours to pass. Frustratingly for filmmakers the best weather conditions for flying tend to coincide with the worst conditions for filming - grey skies and strong wind are not conducive to creative photography! But that's a good reason to put the camera down and just enjoy the experience.
When millions of geese and their predators return to their breeding grounds in Canada's far north, it can have a dramatic effect on the landscape. Watch the tundra come to life.
Published 1 February 2010
John Aitchison
