January Look for mallards and Canada geese if there is an early thaw. Bald and golden eagles frequent the basins even when the water is still frozen. Prairie falcons sometimes perch on utility poles near larger wetlands. By mid-February larger basins usually have pools of open water, and agitation by ducks and geese keeps them from refreezing. Mallards and Canada geese that have wintered on the Platte River usually appear on the basins first, followed by migrating pintails.
Snow geese usually arrive in large numbers if the weather moderates and open water is available.
By the end of February, the migration is well under way. March March is the peak month for waterfowl viewing. Pintail courtship flights and whirlwinds of snow geese are common. An alert observer might see as many as 20 species of waterfowl in a single day. The early part of April still offers excellent waterfowl viewing.