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The High Plains Snow Goose Festival
February 3 - February 5
In February, when the fields and reservoirs of Southeastern Colorado turn white—not from snow but from the large white geese arriving by the thousands during their traditional migration to their winter roosts—it’s time, once again, for the annual High Plains Snow Goose Festival, one of the largest birding festivals in Colorado.
Families, bird watchers, and a variety of outdoor enthusiasts come to Lamar each February to see the arctic waterfowl as they arrive via the Western Central Flyway that includes Colorado, New Mexico, and the Texas Panhandle.
Prowers County’s scattered ponds, lakes, and reservoirs are waterfowl magnets, and the Snow Goose is no exception. In recent decades, their population has been exploding as they currently have a breeding population approaching 6 million, a sizable chunk of which migrate right through southeastern Colorado.
Not only are these geese beautiful to see, but the sound of tens of thousands of large white geese flapping their wings as they rise from the water is not something easily forgotten.
Event Programs
A family friendly event, the festival offers a variety of programs for both adults and children. Field trips, games, tours, and seminars will celebrate birding and the heritage of Southeastern Colorado. Whether you are a seasoned birder or an amateur wanting to learn more or just interested in the event, you’ll be getting together with others to learn and explore.
Event registration is free and numerous programs are offered at no charge. However, field trips range in price depending on the length of the program and if meals are provided. Tours take guests to Two Buttes Reservoir, John Martin Reservoir, Willow Creek, Camp Amache, and Picture and Carrizo Canyons, south of Lamar – make sure to register for tours as they can fill up fast.
The festival offers a variety of programs, field trips, and seminars that celebrate birding and the heritage of Southeastern Colorado. Tours take guests to Two Buttes Reservoir, John Martin Reservoir, and Picture and Carrizo Canyons, south of Lamar. Event registration is free. However, field trips range from price depending on the length of the program and if meals are provided. Numerous programs are also offered at no charge.
Keynote Speaker: Alison Kondler
Alison Kondler of BirdingByEar.com will be our keynote speaker in 2023! Presentation title: Birds Heard In Words. Alison will take you through her mnemonic-based learning techniques to help you build brain-bridges from the bird’s sound to your memory. You do not need to be a musician to learn birdsong. This presentation is for all learning styles, where you can gain insight on how to visualize, add emotion, create stories, and remember the bird sounds with creative and humorous techniques that are unforgettable.
Alison is a Denver Audubon Master Birder and Mentor, naturalist, and former comedian/actress whose life passion is to help others become aware of birds and the multitude of sounds they produce. Working with her comedic and stage background she created a Bird Sound ID course using mnemonic-based techniques in 2010. You can currently find Alison on many social media platforms filming, editing, and animating original bird themed videos that are informative, inspiring, and peaceful. Alison is also the owner of her own video production company specializing in social media promotional content.