Mark McKenna
Migrating geese take to the sky early Sunday morning from the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge.
Those who braved the pre-dawn cold Sunday to venture down to the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Loleta were treated to the sight of thousands of geese taking flight as a part of the Aleutian Cackling Goose Fly-Off.
The annual event, also dubbed "Sunrise at the Refuge," allows people to enter the refuge before sunrise in order to see the migratory geese take flight from their nighttime roosts. This year, the refuge will expand its hours to open half an hour before sunrise every Saturday and Sunday in March to give more visitors the chance to see the birds take flight.
Local photographer Mark McKenna was there Sunday and shares the following slideshow. (Spoiler alert: He also found a trio of snuggling otters.)