Getaway

Spring on the wing

It is an astonishing sight - white as far as the eye can see. Just imagine 50,000 snow geese taking flight at the same time, honking to encourage each other as they go. If you’re in the Montreal region, the Centre d’interprétation de Baie-du-Febvre is hands-down the best place from which to observe this fantastic flight. If you’re in the Quebec City region, Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Reserve is another stopover for our feathered friends.

Where life is grand... for the birds

In the spring, the snow geese prefer Lake Saint-Pierre and its wetlands. Protected from terrestrial predators by the swelling waters of the St. Lawrence, the birds are attracted by the abundant food in the surrounding pastures and by American bulrush, a plant rich in nutrients that grows in profuse quantities along the axis of the estuary and the river. A natural gem that has been under UNESCO protection since November 2000, Lake Saint-Pierre is part of the network of Biosphere Reserves. In addition to the snow goose, it offers room and board to nearly 280 species of resident and migratory birds, including a 5,000-strong population of herons that are part of the largest heron preserves in North America.

Visiting Baie-du-Febvre

In the spring, the tiny village of Baie-du-Febvre, 95 km east of Montreal, becomes the meeting point for greater snow geese. Each year, the Baie-du-Febvre interpretation centre organizes outings with snow-goose enthusiasts and offers a wonderful observation spot - a boardwalk where visitors can see without being seen.   With each spring migration, the centre organizes an event called Regard sur l’oie blanche. It’s an exhibition in which a visual artist displays his or her vision of the return of the geese.

Spring at Cape Tourmente

Cape Tourmente, a unique wildlife preserve located near Quebec City, is another favourite haunt of the snow goose. Fewer birds land there in the spring, but the site is wonderful nonetheless. Each day until mid-May, the preserve’s biologists invite you to join them on the banks of the St. Lawrence. Take the opportunity to ask them everything you’ve always wanted to know, but were afraid to ask, about the lives of the geese.

Among other things, our experts will tell you that the proud mother goose, after completing her non-stop 900 kilometres (558 miles) flight, will travel three and even four times as far to reach her summer abode on Baffin and Bylot islands. They will also tell you that there is nothing closer or more faithful than a goose and her mate... If you want to learn more, just go! Along with being proud and resilient, geese are generous! They share their preserve with more than 250 other species of birds. When you pay a summer visit to the fauna at Cape Tourmente, you will see such wonders as the ruby-throated hummingbird and the peregrine falcon.

André Quenneville
2009-02-23