Nearly 8,200 geese were counted at Freezout Lake on Thursday ahead of the Wild Wings Festival, which will bring birdwatchers to the small town of Choteau.

Those counting birds at Freezout Lake have noted far fewer birds coming through this year than in years past. Over the past two decades observers have counted an average of 40,000-50,000 birds at the peak of the migration, which usually takes place in late March.

Ice might be a factor.

"Some small pockets of water are opening up, but the majority of the area remains frozen," Montana FWP's migration tracker noted Friday. "Small uptick in light geese today. A few ducks present (~3000 or so), but still pretty low overall numbers."