Social Distancing Forces GiG to Drive in Separate Cars to See Swans
 Debra, Gail and Katie headed out at 6:45 a.m. in separate cars to protect against coronavirus (COVID-19) to make the half-hour drive to Freezeout Lake. We hoped to see the snow geese, swans and many ducks fly from the ponds to the grain fields at break of day. And indeed we did. The dawn was beautiful with pastel colors filling the skies, outlining the Rocky Mountain Front, along with the cries of the geese as they prepared to lift. We got out of our cars to take some pictures and listen to the cacophony, but we kept far apart to prevent spreading coronavirus in the off-chance one of us had been exposed. We were among about six or seven others viewing the spectacle. Every once in a while, the cold wind forced us back into our vehicles to warm up. We were on the south end of the main pond, viewing a group of maybe a thousand geese, hoping to see a major lift off, but it never happened. Groups of 25-50 flew away and a few from other overhead flocks landed and took off again. However, we saw many groups from other ponds flying in the distance, wave upon wave. By 8:30, the show was just about over, but Katie and Debra headed up to Priest Butte Lake to check for swans while Gail headed back to town. The edges of the lake were covered with hundreds, if not thousands, of tundra swans along with some geese and ducks.We stayed briefly at the side of the road to marvel at them. We didn't get any miles out of this outing, but observing nature was worth it. Who went: Gail, Debra, Katie |
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