Follow our Snow Geese
Bird watchers, open your eyes wide in the Côte-du-Sud!
With the arrival of spring, nature suddenly comes alive as snow geese pass through the area and pause before continuing on to the Arctic. Fall is also highlighted by this great migratory movement-- this time accompanied by an array of nature's special colors and celebrated in numerous cultural and agricultural events. What a show-and all of this, only 30 minutes from Quebec City!
From mid-April to mid-May and late September to late October, the main concentrations of geese are found in the Côte-du-Sud, especially in the surroundings of Montmagny. The region offers these celebrated migratory birds a shoreline and archipelago rich in bulrush marshes, their favourite habitat. One should know that geese are particularly fond of American Bulrush Rhizomes (roots), a perennial plant loaded with nutrients that grows along tidal flats and which enables them to stock fat before continuing their long journey.
In the spring, the snow geese population is concentrated and feeds in the farmlands along the St. Lawrence River. In autumn, the area's migratory bird sanctuaries located in Montmagny, L'Isle-aux-Grues and Cap St.-Ignace are favourite observation sites for experienced or amateur bird watchers. The Montmagny basin provides the perfect place to watch geese up close and in their natural habitat-the best is at high tide, on a bright sunny day.
Montmagny, Snow Goose Capital, invites you to come and discover this fascinating bird and its migration. Birdwatching guides, observation sites, and the Snow Goose Trail are at your disposal. The Centre des migrations offers a permanent exhibit titled "Migration" and allows you to better understand both the migration of the snow geese and the human population. Temporary exhibits are also shown. Don't miss the Festival de l'oie blanche, which is among the most important events in the Chaudière-Appalaches region. This festival is a highlight of the year, with its array of activities and entertainment celebrating the snow geese in all their forms. Restaurants in the area invite you to taste this delicious waterfowl. Eager agro-tourists: Come and join the party!
The perfect spot for hunters.
You can hunt geese and duck in the region from late September to late November. In recent years, goose hunting has also become possible in the spring. Hunters may now indulge in their favorite activity on the shoreline of the St. Lawrence River, on the croplands around Montmagny, the archipelago of Isle-aux-Grues and Cap Saint-Ignace. With the increasing number of snow geese and the restructuring of this activity in several places, snow goose hunting has become one of the most popular activities in the region. A permit is required for goose and duck hunting.
Whether or not you are a hunter, a bird watcher or simply a lover of nature, the outdoors and agro-tourism, there is no doubt that a stay in the enchanting region of Montmagny will give you an eyeful ... and keep your stomach full! To find out where you can observe this waterfowl, click here for links to observation sites.
Guide for watching the snow geese 1 of 2 [2,58 Mo] french only
Guide for watching the snow geese 2 of 2 [3,74 Mo] french only
Visit the existing Blog on the geese - french only