Abstract
Goose counts have been made in September, October, November and January since September 1977. Staging Greylag Geese Anser anser increased from 19,000 in 1984 to 250,000 in 2008–2010, mainly due to a corresponding population growth, and a wintering tradition was established with a maximum of 50,000 in 2008. Staging and wintering White-fronted Geese Anser albifrons increased from less than 3,000 to up to 40,000 and 25,000, respectively, due to a northward shift of the sites. Wintering Canada Geese Branta canadensis increased from less than 10,000 to a peak of 70,000 in 2009–2010, mainly an effect of the growing Swedish population. Staging of the Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis is a new tradition established in autumn 2,000, with no less than 150,000 in 2011. Sweden is the autumn staging area for almost the entire Taiga Bean Goose Anser fabalis fabalis population that has decreased in recent years. During the same period Tundra Bean Geese A. f. rossicus have started to stage in larger numbers, the overall counts of Bean Geese giving an impression of stability in recent years.
Highlights
Most goose populations in Europe have shown very marked increases during recent decades (Madsen et al 1999, Fox et al 2010) reaching such levels that some were considered as a problem for the agriculture by causing crop damages (Hake et al 2010, von Roomen & Madsen 1992) but this does not apply to all species
The Taiga Bean Goose Anser fabalis fabalis breeding in Fennoscandia has decreased since the early years of the 1900s (Mathiasson 1963, Nilsson & Fog 1984, Nilsson & Persson 1984)
The main aim of the September counts has been to get a full coverage of the sites used by staging Greylag Geese, whereas the October and November counts have had the same aim for the Bean Geese
Summary
Most goose populations in Europe have shown very marked increases during recent decades (Madsen et al 1999, Fox et al 2010) reaching such levels that some were considered as a problem for the agriculture by causing crop damages (Hake et al 2010, von Roomen & Madsen 1992) but this does not apply to all species. The Lesser Whitefronted Goose Anser erythropus had decreased dramatically and disappeared as a naturally breeding species in Sweden (Andersson & Holmqvist 2010). The Taiga Bean Goose Anser fabalis fabalis breeding in Fennoscandia has decreased since the early years of the 1900s Goose Research Group was established in by the Nordic Council for Wildlife Research (Nordiskt Kollegium för Viltforskning, NKV). The main aim of the group was to study the two decreasing populations, but the Greylag Goose Anser anser was included in the project As the Greylag Goose had started to increase in the Nordic countries as well as elsewhere in Europe a special Nordic Greylag Goose Project was later started as a continuation of the first Nordic goose research program (Anderson et al 2001)
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