Moult and moult migration of Greylag Geese Anser anser from a population in Scania, south Sweden

Abstract

The moult migration of Greylag Geese Anser anser from Scania, southernmost Sweden, was studied based on resightings of neck-banded individuals marked in the breeding areas. Most geese seen in moulting areas were recorded in the marking area both before and after moult. Up to 1992, 72% of all neck-banded Greylag Geese recorded from a moulting area were reported from Oostvaardersplassen in the Netherlands, 600 km from the marking area. After 1992, there was a change in the moult migration and the majority of the reports of moulting Greylag Geese from Scania were from the Danish island of Saltholm a distance of 50 km away. Owing to the increase in the Greylag Goose population, the moulting site at Oostvardersplassen probably reached its carrying capacity and the geese had to move their moult site. The moult migration of the study population is discussed in relation to the food availability of the two main moulting sites.