PICKAWAY COUNTY, Ohio — If you’ve looked up recently and spotted large V-shaped formations gliding across the sky, you’re witnessing one of nature’s most familiar signs of winter’s arrival: the annual migration of Canada geese.
As colder air and early winter conditions settle into the Great Lakes region, Canada geese are heading south in search of open water and reliable food sources. These birds can migrate impressive distances—often traveling 2,000 to 3,000 miles or more—during their fall journey, which typically takes place from September through October. They return north in the spring, usually between April and May, to breed.
The geese fly in V-formations, a strategy that helps conserve energy and allows the flock to communicate more effectively during long flights. They rely on a combination of instinct, visual landmarks, and the Earth’s magnetic field to navigate their routes.
While migration remains common, wildlife experts note that not all Canada geese make the journey. Some populations, particularly Giant Canada geese, have become year-round residents in parts of Ohio due to milder winters, plentiful food, and urban development that provides open water and grassy feeding areas.
Even though the winter solstice is still weeks away, winter conditions have arrived early across the region. For Pickaway County residents, that means more frequent sightings of migrating flocks overhead as geese pass through on their way south.
Wildlife officials remind residents to enjoy the seasonal display but to give the birds space, especially in fields and near waterways where they stop to rest and feed during migration.
