

More than a million snow geese migrate to California each year.

They have been following this same migration pattern,

for millennia.

They come from Russia, Alaska and Canada.

Over 30,000 of them winter at The Salton Sea in Southern California.

It is always disconcerting,

to see thousands of these arctic birdies,

sunning in the desert.

Sandhill cranes from Canada soak up the sun here too.
Cheers to you from the arctic desert birdies~
These are beautiful, Cindy, I love Snow Geese! They also winter in huge numbers around the mid-Atlantic Chesapeake Bay region, and I’ve sat in my car many times to watching and listening to them. When they take off, the noise is amazing, I’m sure you know. With a take off and/or landing, it’s like seeing a snow globe in real life! So glad you shared these, I’m missing ‘mine’ this winter. π
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Yes! I love your “snow globe in real life.” Wonderfully descriptive. Their sound is unique. If you get really close, the whirl of the wings, the wind they create, the sound of them, and the blockage of your vision except for the birds. It is an amazing experience α
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I know what you mean, it’s like a Snow Geese tornado! I was standing outside my car (more than once π ) alongside a huge flock, when something startled them and they started flying and swirling all around me. Hearing their wings, their squawks, the sight was mesmerizing! Until the poo bombs started falling. I ran for my car! π€£ I was lucky to not get hit but my car did. π
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I know I will regret saying this, because the birdies will know, and respond accordingly to a bird-poop braggart…. but I have never been pooped on by a wild bird π π My cars have though, but I don’t blame the birdies for that! Happy New Year Donna! πΏπππ
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I’ve been bombed twice, lol. It wasn’t funny neither time…..but it is now. π I don’t mind the car either, hehe. Happy New Year, Cindy, from the other side of the U.S. π₯ π
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I would imagine the degree of humor one could feel would be directly related to the size of the ‘launching’ bird….. π π
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π π
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Gorgeous! It must have been thrilling to watch!
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Yes, thank you Deborah, it was α
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We only have Canadian geese where we live (and we have a lot of them!). These snow geese are really pretty. Thanks for sharing your pictures π
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You are very welcome. We have Canadian Geese too, because some retire here. I love having them as neighbors α
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Whoa… the panorama (?) photo is amazing, as if it has sound. Wildlife is so… amazing. Lovely to see these images!
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This makes me so happy Liza. You can feel the sound! The roar of the wings is amazing α
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A m a z i n g
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Thank you. Nature is such α
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If only I could be there and see this. Sob!
Bless yers for sharing.
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“We had joy, we had fun
We had seasons in the sun
But the wine and the song
Like the seasons have all gone.”
I think these are lyrics from a British pop song that stuck in my head since I was little. There were so many more lyrics. I was always wondering as a kid, wait, where’s my joy and fun? I didn’t realize it was always passing.
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Can’t rememebr the group, but do the sone Cindy.
Like a flash, I do say,
Joy spins away,
Replaced one day,
With some dismay,
As the mind sinks into disarray,
And the body needs an X-ray,
Stomach can’t cope with satay,
No point in praying whatever you say,
Gods got his hands full, every day,
Tryingto make Covid-19 go away!
I just made that up, gal. Am I losing it? Nae, I lost it ages ago.
It’d nice if could go back and try again… mind you… perhaps not me. Hehehe!
Thanks, take care and be safe, petal. β₯
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Now that is an epic poem. And I feel the burn of the satay, the burning absence I mean… Life with no satay? I say nay! Hope the New Year is kind to you my friend πͺππ₯π
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Hahaha!
Just the smile I needed, that, Cindy, Merci mon ami! β₯
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αα
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We’ve seen them once as they winter over near Vancouver, but have heard them many times when out in the wilds of Delta. Quite a sight!
Alison
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They are proof that nature is powerful, and we are just a bit of nature α
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Thats a whole whack of birds Cindy! We send them south to get some sun!
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Of course you do. You know it like Las Vegas for them. Makes them eager to come home soon. α
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do Canada a favour and make sure they wear a mask If they go to Vegas please
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Happy New Year, may it bring you health and tenderness !
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Happy New Year Cindy ! π Great for bird watch.
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Beautiful! I have never seen that many geese gathering and flying together. Wish you a happy, healthy new year! π
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So pleased you enjoyed them and Happy & Healthy New Year to you πΏπππ
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Thank you π
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αα
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WOW !!!
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Love that word. Happy & Healthy New Year to you πΏπππ
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Splendid flocks
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The birdies, and I, appreciate you Derrick. Happy & Healthy New Year! πΏπππ
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And you, Cindy X
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αα
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Wow, these are wonderful pictures. I really love the last one. Awesome!
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Awww, thank you my friend. We are embarking on another virtual year together. How many has it been? Quite a few I think. I look forward to sharing the year with you. Happy & Healthy New Year to you πΏπππ
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Wow! That is an astonishingly huge number of geese! They’re beautiful, though, aren’t they?
I’ve often wondered what effect migrating birds, en masse, have on the immediate environment. I suppose, as it happens year after year, it’s become part of the form of nature. (If that makes sense).
I hope you have a good new year and years to come. All the best.
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Interesting question. I don’t really know the answer to it though. They certainly spread fertilizer, seeds, provide nutrients for hungry predators, and depending on the species, help keep insect and reptile populations in check. They have been migrating in numbers far greater than we have now for thousands of years so they are probably an integral part of the ecological web. Happy & Healthy New Year to you Val πΏπππ
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We get them here in Central PA about February, Cindy. I love going to Middle Creek when they arrive. https://youtu.be/t87lmQ3TWXU It’s a wonderful experience, so cacophonous and visually amazing!
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People have been telling me about them in PA. I want to visit! The link is fabulous! Thank you for sharing it with me Pam α
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My pleasure! π₯°
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α
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Wow! Some population! π
Best wishes for 2021 π
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Happy & Healthy New Year to you! πΏπππ
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Amazing. I don’t mean the flock of geese.
I mean the flock of followers you have. π
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Bloggers create an awesome community of talented, creative and kind people, that I am so honored to be part of. People like you my friend! Happy & Healthy New Year to you πΏπππ
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Thank you for making me feel awesome. I am sure blogging has been a blessing for many this past year and will continue to be on into the coming year. I read and enjoy so many topics that I never imagined would be of interest. It’s hard to explain it to someone who has never blogged. It has to be experienced to be understood.
The best to you too.
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You are so right. You have to be part of the blogging community to understand how awesome it is. I can’t even imagine the past year without it. The news media and FB would be our main source of information? Yuck. How dismal would that be! Bloggers give us interesting things to read about, see and share. God bless bloggers!!
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Your pictures are outstanding, Cindy, wow! πΈPawkisses for a Happy New Year. Let’s make it a great oneπΎπ½β¨
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You are a thoughtful friend. Thank you & Happy & Healthy New Year! πΏπππ
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I love it! What a remarkable sight to see!
I always like it when the monarch butterflies pass through here. π
Hope you have a wonderful beginning to 2021!
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Thank you Bethany. I always miss the monarch migration and would love to see it. Happy & Healthy New Year to you πΏπππ
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Stunning shots, Cindy!! Wishing you a super wonderful 2021!!
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Happy & Healthy New Year to you Lorrie and thank you my friend πΏπππ
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βΊπ§‘
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We don’t see snow geese (gorgeous photos BTW) but we have two gaggles of geese who live in our neighborhood – came from Canada and now just live here.
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Snow birds staying south love the sun π π
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Stunning photos, Cindy.
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Thanks much Mark & cheers to you α
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Maybe even winter birdies need a vacation at the beach?!? Such beautiful creatures, Cindy — a delightful way to jump-start the new year!
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Cindy, thank you for these stunning photographs!
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Thank you more for appreciating them Charles and Happy & Healthy New year my friend. I look forward to sharing another virtual year with you! πΏπππ
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Talk about lots of birds.
The plan had been to place a lot of windmills and solar panels along their flyway. Fortunately, the power utilities couldn’t pass their EIS.
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You gotta scratch your head re: the planners, don’t ya? I wonder how long it took in the planning process before they figured out that a million birds might mess up their windmills.
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Great photos- I particularly like the picture of the sandhill cranes. The golden hues are beautiful.
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Thank you Sheryl & Happy and Healthy New Year my friend πΏπππ
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Spectacular, Cindy! They are sure a sight to see. There are some bird sanctuaries in NorCal that I’ve visited over the years. Armed with my new camera 4 years ago, we ventured out to one near Colusa. I couldn’t wait to see them flocking like in the past. BUT…there had been so much rain that the water was almost too deep for them to feed properly. I saw a few that day but not what I had hoped for. Great shots and good timing!
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Ah, thank you Terri! Lots of water enables them to spread out more and be more difficult to see. I have experienced this too and it is frustrating for us, but good for the birds. Wishing you a Happy & Healthy New Year my friend α
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The sky looks peppered with the birds no. π
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Perfect description, and heavy on the pepper! π
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β€ Yes.
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oh, wie ist das schΓΆn, beste GrΓΌΓe von mir zu dir, Klaus
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Danke mein freundlicher Freund. Ich wΓΌnsche Ihnen Gesundheit und GlΓΌck. α
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Reblogged this on Musings on Life & Experience and commented:
Arctic birds that fly south for the winter.
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Thank you Patricia for you thoughtful kindness. Happy & Healthy New Year to you my friend α
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Some of these birds fly through Juneau Alaska each year. It is a treat to spot them on the wetlands.
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Juneau is beautiful and I would love to see them there. Happy New Year to you both α
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WOW!!! Just AMAZING!!
I would love to be a Snowbird (of the human sort) and fly to California or Texas or anywhere south for the winter. *sigh*
β€οΈcarmen
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So happy you enjoyed Carmen & thank you. You just continue blooming where you’re planted. Southern California is not a safe place to be right now my friend. Happy & Healthy New Year α
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Beautiful beautiful βΊοΈ. Birds π¦’ of a feather…!
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We do! We flock together. Happy New Year John α
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HYN. π
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Cindy, you always have the most phenomenal posts. This is beautiful and awe-inspiring. LOL but I can’t help thinking about how loud all that honking must be! Hugs on the wing.
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Ahhh, thank you sweet friend. The honking is loud, but so is the sounds of thousands of furiously beating wings!! Happy & Healthy New Year my friend αα
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What a sight it must be to see the massive flocks flying
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It is an amazing experience especially if you get near them when they take off. α
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Beautiful shots. Thank you so much.
And a very happy new year to you. ππ»
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Thanks much my friend and Healthy & Happy New Year to you α
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Let’s all try that, shall we? ππ»
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Amen π
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Happy New Year, Cindy! So lovely to be able to visit with your spectacular pictures. And, as always, I had to scroll down forever to be able to comment. π Wishing you the best for 2021. Stay safe. Lots of love, xx
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Your thoughtful comment is much appreciated my friend . Thank you and Happy & Healthy New Year α
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We have many that pass through here and the entire city of Portland and surround will stop for them if they wander the interstate or roadways. You are so good at capturing the full magnificence of these birds. Happy New Year, Cindy.
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I love people who stop for animals! Thank you Marlene & be well my friend α
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I think migration is fascinating, and of course you capture it beautifully! It’s a wonder how they don’t bump into each other in such large close flocks. Thank you, Cindy.
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Thank you Jenny and yes, flock navigational abilities are now the focus of scientific investigation. It’ about time! α
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π
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Oh how lovely. The sound must be amazing. One year in particular, hundreds of dark-bellied Brent geese migrated from Russia to the UK’s SE coast. Every time they flew in configuration over my garden, my dog and I rushed out with excitement to watch them. They honked from dawn until dusk. It was sublime.
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Just reading about this gives me goosebumps. How wonderful that you and your dog loved and appreciated them! It is nature, in all her glory, just waiting for us to notice and recognize, we are part of all of it. Stay safe and well Sarah α
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Hi,
Nice photos. Please check out my blog on Russia @ https://wordpress.com/view/travelrahul.wordpress.com
Please like and follow me for more travel related content
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BeautΓ© absolue de ce blog, toujours fascinant
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Ahhh, votre gentillesse est trΓ¨s apprΓ©ciΓ©e. Merci et bonne et bonne annΓ©e Γ vous α
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Excelente, como todas tus publicaciones. Te felicito.
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Me siento honrado de que lo haga y muchas gracias amigo mΓo. Feliz y saludable aΓ±o nuevo para ti α
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Muchas bendiciones para ti y tu querida familia, Cindy. Y sΓ, amiga mΓa, admiro tu trabajo. A veces te imagino en la minuciosa labor de captar los momentos y seleccionar las imΓ‘genes mΓ‘s bellas y cautivantes. Te felicito nuevamente.
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Eres un amigo amable y pensativo. α
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Perfectly glorious photos and celebration of this momentous migration, Cindy.
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Ahhh, so kind and so happy you enjoyed my friend. Thank you & cheers! α
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Oh WOW… what a spectacular flight…. Amazing captures of the birds in a line formation too Cindy.. π
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I have never see as many geese as those. Amazing photos.
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WOW and WOW! Stunning pictures of an amazing phenomenon!
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Ahh, so happy you enjoyed & thank you Kathy α
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This is some stunning work!!
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Thank you very much Srilata. Much appreciated α
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Hi, Cindy,
I have been very tired after Christmas, and have been keeping holidays.
??
In addition to this I have worries with my computer all the time.I’ll try to come back – maybe in February.Happy New Year 2021! ?? ? ? ?
I am always hibernating on January and sometimes also February ?? ??
Sending many blessings to you ?? ?? ??
Anaelle A. ??
________________________________ LΓ€hettΓ€jΓ€: WordPress.com LΓ€hetetty: lauantai 2. tammikuuta 2021 16.25 Vastaanottaja: jisai_grist3111@outlook.com Aihe: [New post] Arctic Desert Denizens~
cindy knoke posted: ” More than a million snow geese migrate to California each year. They have been following this same migration pattern, for millennia. They come from Russia, Alaska and Canada. Over 30,000 of them winter at The Salto”
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Thank you Anaelle. Sending blessings back to you and hopes that January and February are kind to you my friend α
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