ADDISON, Vt. (WCAX) – We all see birds flying south for the winter. Waterfowl are flocking to warmer waters as well. The weather may drive their journey, but it’s the food that shapes where they go.
Vermont Fish and Wildlife creates food-filled landing spots for waterfowl as they move through the Green Mountain State.
“From the long journey, they burn a lot of calories so providing food sources for them is important,” Vermont Fish and Wildlife biologist Amy Alfieri said.
There’s a whole buffet of wild foods, foods planted by the fish and wildlife department and farmers across the state who help out as well.
“There’s waste grain leftover that gets left from normal harvesting practices and that provides a great food source for migrating waterfowl, especially geese,” Vermont Fish and Wildlife’s migratory game bird project leader Andrew Bouton said.
Bouton ensures these landing pads with snacks are available across the state, and monitors the birds’ actions. He’s noticed where the birds go is based on what food is available. A prime example is the snow goose.
“We don’t get many snow geese through Vermont anymore,” Bouton said.
A few decades ago, Vermont would get 20,000 or more moving through each year. Now it’s only a few thousand. The snow geese have gone across the lake instead, flying down through New York and following the food.
“There’s more grain farming over there and more waste grain associated with grain farming than there is with cutting for silage,” Bouton said.
Silage is winter livestock feed.
Don’t put your binoculars away just yet. There are still avian visitors snacking their way through the Green Mountain State, like ducks.
As human practices change the landscape, the Vermont Fish and Wildlife teams make sure waterfowl get their fill along their way south.
“We’re not going to sit there and eat Cheetos every day all day. We’re going to eat a mixed diet so the birds have access to that here,” Alfieri said.
You can still see them flying through, heading south and eating a Vermont snack along the way.
Copyright 2026 WCAX. All rights reserved.
Dining and Cooking