The epicenter of the spring bird migration in Montana is Freezout Lake Wildlife Management Area (WMA) and the surrounding agricultural lands. The WMA is approximately 12,000 acres in size and is managed by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP).  As described on the FWP website, "The area is managed to ensure year-round use to varying degrees by waterfowl, upland game birds, marsh-dwelling birds, and other species of wildlife that inhabit wetland areas. Efforts to maintain and manage a diversity of wetland and upland bird habitats and associated vegetation have made Freezout Lake WMA a waterfowler’s “heaven” and a birdwatcher’s delight."  

The area is attractive to light geese (lesser snow and Ross's geese) during the migration because of the food source (local agricultural grain fields) and security the area waterbodies provide.  

Check out in-depth details, including WMA map and general information, downloadable brochures, migration status updates, etc. on the Freezout Lake WMA Story Map:  Freezout Lake WMA Story Map

A Geographic Overview of the Light Goose Spring Migration (with excerpts from the Freezout Lake WMA Snow Geese Brochure) 

The spring migration for light geese begins as early as late February when geese begin flocking to gathering areas located in northern California and southern Oregon. For many, the next major staging area in the lower 48 states in the Pacific Flyway is Freezout Lake WMA. The geese arrive here, rest and refuel, before crossing the border into the prairies of Saskatchewan and Alberta. Their final summer nesting destinations are various locations along the Alaskan, Canadian and even Russian arctic. Several distinct populations of geese are part of this northward movement. The Ross’s geese find their nesting grounds in the central Canadian arctic (the Queen Maude Gulf Migratory Bird Sanctuary). The bulk of the lesser snow geese nest in the western Canadian arctic (Bank’s Island and the delta of the Anderson River). A small segment moves westward to nest within the Prudhoe Bay oil field of Alaska. A larger segment continues even further west to Russia’s Wrangel Island. Geese begin to arrive on arctic nesting grounds in late May when midnight sun melts the remaining snow and provides long days to rapidly raise young.