White swirls and a chorus of honks have returned to the skies as snow geese begin their seasonal migration through the region.

In September, the snow geese started migrating from their breeding grounds in northern Canada and Greenland to make their way south for the winter. The path for the tens of thousands of birds goes straight through the Lehigh Valley.

While here, the geese could be seen spending many hours eating in the fields during the day. They rest in one of the many local water-filled quarries at night.

Snow geese are amazing to see for many people, but not everyone is happy when they are in the area. The geese need to eat a lot to maintain energy to continue their journey. According to one local farmer, these feeding habits severely damage crops such as winter wheat.

The final destinations of the geese are the Mid-Atlantic states of New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. Some geese go as far south as the Carolinas.

One of the major stopovers along the way is the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area, southwest of the Lehigh Valley in Lebanon and Lancaster counties. A February visit to Middle Creek will provide bird watchers with a spectacle that is incredible to see and hear. According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission website, the peak winter count of the snow geese averaged 100,000 in recent seasons.

After several months of wintering, the snow geese start their journey back to their breeding grounds and begin the cycle over.