Geese at Oahe Downstream

Thousands of Canada geese and other waterfowl congregate on the open waters of the Missouri River throughout central South Dakota in winter. These are floating in the spillway area of Oahe Downstream Recreation Area north of Pierre and Fort Pierre. Photographers and birders love the area for viewing the large flocks of waterfowl, plus eagles and other raptors that follow them.
For this shot, I drove out onto one of the gravel bars that reach into the river to control flow of the water and turned back toward the camping cabins. Staying in a vehicle usually ensures that the birds will sit without being spooked. The telephoto effect of my 400m lens compacted the geese together even more than they actually are.

Chad Coppess, Senior Photographer