Saving wetlands for wildlife & people
Saving wetlands for wildlife & people
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 Background
The Iceland population of the Greylag Goose was confirmed as being discrete from other Greylag Goose populations in the Western Palearctic, including the Scottish-breeding population, by early analyses of ringing data. There is, however, some overlap between these populations during the winter, and increasingly between the Icelandic migrants and Re-established birds. This population breeds in lowland areas of Iceland. Each autumn, birds migrate to spend the winter almost exclusively in Britain. A small number of birds also winter in Ireland, and others have recently been identified in southern Norway. Arrival in Britain begins in early autumn, particularly in North and East Scotland. Considerable redistribution occurs later in the winter, especially to traditional haunts further south within Scotland and to Northern England, although important changes in these patterns have occurred in recent years, and since the 1970s there has been a clear contraction of range northwards. This has continued to the present day and numbers in Orkney have increased markedly, from c. 3,000 in the early 1990s to a peak of over 50,000 in 2006 (Newth 2007). From early April, birds begin to leave Britain to return to the southern lowlands and other coastal areas of Iceland (Hearn & Mitchell 2004). As little traditional winter habitat (coastal Scirpus beds and inland fens and marshes) remains in Britain today, the species has moved inland to feed on arable farmland and improved pastures. Many of these crops are of economic value and this has brought the geese into direct conflict with farmers. Farmers have tolerated geese for many years, but concern and the number of complaints have been growing, particularly where goose numbers are high and increasing, such as Orkney. This population has been monitored annually since 1960 by the Icelandic-breeding Goose Census (IGC). A network of largely volunteer observers undertakes two coordinated counts, in October and November, aiming to cover all key roost sites (daytime counts of feeding birds are made in a few areas). A third coordinated count was introduced in 2005 as part of a three year trial (2005-2007) to reassess the best period in which to census this population. The need for this has arisen because of later departures from the breeding grounds. Age assessments are made in autumn and early winter.
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