Predawn Flock of Snow Geese, Abstract Photo

By May 6, 2009January 12th, 2016Abstract

Last winter I joined friends Skip Stubbs and Ken Howard for a few days of bird photography at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. I would get up early each morning to watch the enormous flocks of snow geese that overnight on the ponds take off in a massive predawn exodus, up up and away to the crane pools or corn fields nearby, where they would spend the day foraging and quacking. Due to the dim light a long exposure was required, rendering the geese as streaks across the background. Today’s abstract photo, #6 of 15:

Snow geese at sunrise.  Thousands of wintering snow geese take to the sky in predawn light in Bosque del Apache's famous "blast off".  The flock can be as large as 20,000 geese or more.  Long time exposure creates blurring among the geese, Chen caerulescens, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, Socorro, New Mexico

Snow geese at sunrise. Thousands of wintering snow geese take to the sky in predawn light in Bosque del Apache’s famous “blast off”. The flock can be as large as 20,000 geese or more. Long time exposure creates blurring among the geese.
Image ID: 21799
Species: Snow goose, Chen caerulescens
Location: Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, Socorro, New Mexico, USA

About Phil Colla

I am a natural history photographer. I enjoy making compelling images in the ocean, on land, and in the air. I have maintained the Natural History Photography blog since 2005 and my searchable Natural History Photography Library since 1997. Here are some tear sheets and behind the scenes views. Thanks for looking!