Pre‐nesting feeding selectivity of Pink‐footed Geese Anser brachyrhynchus in artificial grasslands

Abstract

The pre‐nesting feeding ecology of Pink‐footed Geese Anser brachyrhynchus was studied in southern Iceland in April and May 1989–1992. Extensive surveys showed that prior to movement to their nesting areas in the interior, Pink‐footed Geese fed mainly on intensively managed grasslands of the southern lowlands. Faecal analysis showed that geese feeding in hayfields foraged almost exclusively on the most commonly reseeded species, Timothy grass Phleum pratense, which made up the majority (41% by number of green shoots) of new growth in studied hayfields. Dropping counts, as an indicator of goose use, were highly significantly correlated in all years with density of growing Phleum shoots in individual field units. Geese showed a response in feeding patterns to changes in Phleum density as a result of reseeding patterns. Analysis of forage quality in 1991 showed that Phleum shoots had a higher protein content than all other grasses present in hayfields, with the exception of Deschampsia caespitosa. The latter species showed similar levels of protein, but its tussocky nature precluded effective grazing by the geese. Phleum was similar in fibre content to other common grasses. Based on removal of tagged plants, geese grazed predominantly on the youngest leaves of Phleum, which also had higher protein content and lower fibre than older leaves and attached dead leaves, which were rarely taken by geese. Geese grazed shorter length classes of youngest leaves, which showed higher protein content than longer, older terminal leaves. Recently created grassland habitat has increased the opportunities for female geese to supplement their reserves during the crucial prelude to clutch initiation by selecting the highest quality plant species and the most nutritious parts of that forage.