Saving wetlands for wildlife & people
Saving wetlands for wildlife & people
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 The Baltic/North Sea population of European White-fronted Goose breeds in European Arctic Russia and northwest Siberia. These birds generally leave their breeding grounds in September and early October (Stroud et al. 2002). Those wintering in Britain pass through Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium, with a few also migrating through southern Sweden. The first birds usually arrive at the New Grounds, on the Severn Estuary, in October. In Britain, the winter distribution is highly localised. Most regular wintering sites are in the south of England, with the largest flock occurring at the New Grounds, Slimbridge, and smaller flocks in Kent and East Anglia. No sites in Britain support internationally important numbers of European White-fronted Geese, but, since the early 2000s, nationally important numbers have occurred at 13 sites. At most sites in the western half of Britain, including the most important site at Slimbridge, numbers have declined in recent years and several sites have been abandoned. In East Anglia, however, numbers are increasing at many sites that were not occupied before 1980, although overall numbers remain low at these locations (Hearn 2004). European White-fronted Geese traditionally wintered on coastal grasslands and inland floodplains in Britain, grazing on natural vegetation. After decades of habitat degradation and loss, as a result of drainage and agricultural intensification, the species now feeds on cropped habitats. Permanent grasslands are the preferred agricultural habitat, although over recent decades a shift to crops such as winter wheat and maize stubble has been observed in Belgium (Kuijken et al. 2001). Given that few birds winter in Britain, with a fragmented distribution and short period of residency, there is minimal conflict with agricultural interests. Hunting is the most significant cause of mortality for the European White-fronted Goose in the Western Palearctic (Mooij 2000) and the species remains a popular quarry for hunters throughout its wintering range. Annual site-based monitoring of European White-fronted Geese in Britain has been ongoing since the late 1940s and is now undertaken primarily through WeBS. Detailed monitoring of numbers at the New Grounds began in winter 1946/47. Until winter 2004/05, estimates of annual productivity had only been made at the New Grounds, Slimbridge and therefore the trend in the breeding success of UK wintering flocks has been determined using data collected just at this site. However, wider survey of productivity was initiated in 2004/05.
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Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust
Slimbridge, Gloucestershire GL2 7BT
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