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CHICO – Snow Goose Festival of the Pacific Flyway, January 24-27, 2013. 14th Annual event includes 60 field trips, workshops, presentations, and free activities. Event fees range from free to fees of $5  or more for special rides and tours. Call: (530) 345-1865. snowgoosefestival.org

Home to millions of birds in Butte County, the Pacific Flyway in Chico is the ideal spot to stage an annual birding event celebrating snow geese during the winter months. Millions of birds – more than 350 species – follow the Pacific Flyway. They travel this great avian highway each year from the Bering Straight to South America, flying over, and wintering in many California  parks and reserves along the way. Birds migrate south as early as August and migrate north as early as March.

The snow goose is a North American bird which migrates typically 3,000 miles or more, and derives its name from its white plumage. Snow geese typically mate for life with bonds usually formed in the second year, although breeding does not usually start until the third year. Females will return to the place they hatched to breed.