April 9, 2018
An experience that never gets old.
It was a cold day in March at DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge near Omaha, NE when Jim and I arrived at the lake. Even with the windows on Jim’s car closed because it was cold outside we could hear the sound that only a large gathering of geese can produce. As we stepped out of the car, the volume of that unique sound increased ten-fold. And then we could see the source, the large lake was nearly full, with the waters nearly obscured by the largest number of waterfowl I have ever seen in once place. The excitement of the large number of observers was obvious, as we all tried to find the spot where this incredible sight could be best seen and heard. I asked an attendant how many made the count today. He smiled as he said, “We are telling people 650,000, but I think a million is more like it.” How do they count them, anyway?
Snow Geese at DeSoto NWR
Snow Geese at DeSoto NWR
Snow Geese at DeSoto NWR
Also to be seen were a number of American Eagles, feasting on injured or ill geese. We saw only a solitary eagle, but newspaper accounts talk of many on the edges of this enormous collection of migrating snow geese, having a late lunch. The entire scene lingers in my brain and hearing system, now close to a month later. I believe in God already, but this experience should affect non-believers that there must be a God. Thank God for the opportunity to be a part of this nature extravaganza.
Signed,
Joe McCaslin, the elder
This is the letter I received from my dad in Omaha, NE. This is also the first we have communicated with each other about our family blog, and I am honored that he submitted a letter and proud to include his experience here. My parents fostered my love for the outdoors from the earliest age, and I have vivid memories of my dad taking me to this same refuge to see the geese many times as a child. Never was it the spectacle that he and my brother experienced that day last month, but the memories are still imprinted in my brain. So for that, I am thankful, and proud to continue passing on the outdoor experience to my children as it was done for me.
PJM
Joe McCaslin
My wife, Deb, and I went to see this as well. A spectacular sight, but an even more spectacular sound! I, too, remember the trips to DeSoto as a kid, always to see the Fall migration, but don’t remember anything this amazing. Dad captures the scene well.
Joe McCaslin, the younger
Betsy
Amazing story, I loved it.