Geese Flock to Refuge

MERCED COUNTY -- A white cloud of mostly Ross's geese fly near a windmill and tractors last week near the Merced National Wildlife Refuge. The migrating birds are plentiful as they make the refuge their winter home. The refuge encompasses 10,258 acres of wetlands, native grasslands, vernal pools and riparian areas. It has the largest wintering populations of lesser sandhill cranes (20,000) and Ross's geese (60,000) along the Pacific Flyway. They mingle with thousands of other visiting waterfowl and shorebirds to make the refuge a true winter phenomenon. The refuge can be reached by driving eight miles south of Merced on Highway 59 and then eight miles west on Sandy Mush Road.

MARCI STENBERG

MARCI STENBERG/mstenberg@mercedsunstar.com Snow Geese and Ross Geese take Flight at the Merced National Wildlife Refuge off of Sandy Mush Road west of El Nido and South of Atwater on a foggy morning 11-27-2012, as a car drove by.

MARCI STENBERG

MARCI STENBERG/mstenberg@mercedsunstar.com Snow Geese and Ross Geese at the Merced National Wildlife Refuge off of Sandy Mush Road west of El Nido and South of Atwater on a foggy morning 11-27-2012.

Debbie Noda

Modesto Bee - DEBBIE NODA/dnoda@modbee.com Ross's geese land in the wetlands in large numbers, February 18, 2013. The migrating birds are plentiful as they and other birds make the Merced National Wildlife Refuge their winter home.

Debbie Noda

Modesto Bee - DEBBIE NODA/dnoda@modbee.com A white cloud of mostly Ross's geese fly near a windmill and tractors. The migrating birds are plentiful as they and other birds make the Merced National Wildlife Refuge their winter home, February 18, 2013.

Debbie Noda

Modesto Bee - DEBBIE NODA/dnoda@modbee.com A couple of Ross's geese, February 18, 2013, as they prepare to land. The migrating birds are plentiful as they and other birds make the Merced National Wildlife Refuge their winter home.

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