An evaluation of the temporal changes, distribution and abundance of the UK overwintering population of pink-footed geese (Anser brachyrhynchus) and an assessment of the North Norfolk population wintering foraging ranges

• Main Author: Stone, John Matthew
• Other Authors: Ward, Alastair? ?(Alastair Iain)?, Hull, Sue
• Format: Thesis
• Language: unknown
• Published: 2020
• Subjects: Biological sciences; Arctic; Svalbard; Greenland; Anser brachyrhynchus; Iceland
• Online Access: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/file/4223332/1/Thesis; https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4223332

Pink-footed geese (Anser brachyrhynchus) is a high arctic breeder, breeding in Greenland, Iceland and Svalbard. There are two distinct sub-populations, both of which migrate and winter in North West Europe. The largest of these populations’ breeds in Iceland and over- winters in the UK, accounting for c. 85% of the world population. In the UK the species is listed as amber in status in the BOCC, Birds of Conservation Concern 4 list. Since early records began in the middle of the last century their numbers have been shown to increase substantially, with a UK wintering population now in excess of half a million individuals.This study reviews the latest population data available, based on data collated as part of the annual Icelandic breeding goose census (IGC) surveys, to further review the UK wintering distribution and abundance of pink-footed geese. As a species of conservation concern, pink- footed geese are monitored by statutory conservation bodies, who are required to assess any potential impact on the population size that land-use change may have. Concern exists within Natural England that potential loss of agricultural and foraging areas in proximity to known roosts of pink-footed geese, may result in a reduction of available foraging resources. Quantifying the impacts of any such loss is complex to model and requires an understanding of a number of factors, including the species energetic needs, daily food intake, resource availability, but also a better understanding of the species daily movements in relation to daily energetics and the ranges in which they forage. This study quantified the daily distances pink- footed geese travelled and their home range size during their wintering stay in North Norfolk.A review of the annual records, supplied by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT), provided evidence of population growth and changes in the UK wintering distribution, with a focus on changes between 1990 and 2018 for which site-specific datum existed and has been analysed. These data provided strong ...