It's just like clockwork. As the snow finally reaches the lakes and fields of Mat-Su Valley's Glacier View area, massive flocks of snow geese take to the skies and start heading southward. This is just one of many bird species that spend their summers in Alaska and swing through the Valley on their way out in the fall. The trumpeter swan is another local favorite, and like the snow geese they like to linger into as much of the fall season as possible before spreading their wings for lower latitudes.

As a hopelessly addicted birder, for me this is one of the greatest features of the Mat-Su Valley. With it's ample farm fields and waterways, the Valley plays host to hundreds of migratory bird species every summer. What a perfect way to conclude those sunny months on a high note! During this same week some years ago, I was sitting in my backyard watching the logs crackle in our little campfire we had built for the boys. Even though night had already fallen I could hear ample honking calls of numerous flocks of geese as they flew overhead using the darkness for cover.

If you find yourself in the Mat-Su Valley this week, be sure to step outside around sunset to catch a glimpse of these large flocks, sometimes thousands strong, as they cross the sky.