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Snow Geese migrate to their breeding grounds on the tundra of Arctic Canada at the start of each summer. Currently, they are on their way back down through North America on their autumn migration but Chadden Hunter was at Karrak Lake, Queen Maud Gulf Bird Observatory this summer when over a million Geese gathered in preparation for the breeding season.
When they arrived at the beginning of summer, the landscape was still mostly frozen but the number of Snow Geese increases as the snow thaws. Unlike a lot of other Geese, these ones usually nest in dense colonies - this summer there was something like 1.2m individuals in a 300 square kilometre area. Since the 1970s, Geese populations have exploded making this particular migration one of the most successful ones on Earth.
At this time of year, the Snow Geese are returning to the United States and Mexico where they will over-winter but in spite of their large numbers on the breeding grounds they still face being shot by hunters. They are an important source of food for some northern people, especially the Cree Indians living around James Bay, when meat is scarce.
Further Reading:
Chadden's last report: Elephant Seals on South Georgia