Saving wetlands for wildlife & people
Saving wetlands for wildlife & people
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Background
There are two populations of Pink-footed Geese: the Greenland/Iceland population breeds primarily in Iceland and Greenland, and winters almost exclusively in Britain; and the smaller Svalbard population breeds in Svalbard and winters primarily in the Low Countries (the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg). Greenland/Iceland Pink-footed Geese breed primarily in central Iceland and in smaller numbers along the southeast coast of Greenland. Many thousands of non-breeding birds migrate from Iceland to northeast Greenland to moult. Migration begins in early autumn to the wintering grounds, which are almost entirely in Britain. Very small numbers also occur in Ireland. From mid April, birds begin to leave Britain and stage in Iceland before departing for the breeding grounds, where they arrive from mid May (Mitchell & Hearn 2004). Arrival in Britain begins in September particularly in Northeast Scotland, at places such as Loch of Strathbeg, Aberdeenshire, and there is rapid movement further south as far as Lancashire. As winter progresses many of the birds in East central Scotland move south to England. Numbers in the southernmost wintering area of Norfolk have increased considerably since the early 1990s, and now up to half of the population occurs there in mid winter. The traditional main winter habitat is thought to have been saltmarsh, but from the late 19th century the species has moved inland to feed on farmland. In recent decades birds have fed on valuable agricultural crops, such as fertilised grassland and cereals, and have been frequently accused of reducing crop yields and puddling soils. In autumn when they feed on fields containing post-harvest root crops, such as potatoes and waste sugar beet, they do no harm, but during mid winter and spring they graze on growing cereals and come into direct competition with livestock for the spring growth of grass leys. Local feeding studies have demonstrated seasonal changes in the diet of Pink-footed Geese apparently responding to, and in part driven by, seasonal changes in the habitats available. The main threat to Pink-footed Geese is the destruction of breeding habitat, particularly proposed hydroelectric schemes in Iceland which may flood large areas used for breeding, feeding and moulting. Some 30,000-40,000 are estimated to be shot each year in Iceland and Britain (although accurate figures for the latter do not exist). This population has been monitored annually since 1960 by the Icelandic-breeding Goose Census (IGC). A network of largely volunteer observers undertakes two co-ordinated counts, the first in October and the second in November, aiming to cover all key roost sites (daytime counts of feeding birds are made in a few areas). In 2005, a third mid-winter count was introduced as part of the IGC, largely to reassess the best time to census Iceland Greylag Geese, due to progressively later departures from the breeding grounds in recent years. This provides an opportunity, however, to collect further data on the abundance and distribution of Pink-footed Geese throughout the winter period. Age assessments are made in autumn and early winter.
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Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust
Slimbridge, Gloucestershire GL2 7BT
T: +44 (0) 1453 891900 E: enquiries@wwt.org.uk
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