Portal to the Lesser White-fronted Goose

- by the Fennoscandian Lesser White-fronted Goose project

Literature type: Scientific

Journal: Wildfowl

Volume: 68 , Pages: 44-69.

Language: English

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Full reference: Cuthbert, R.J., Aarvak, T., Boros, E., Eskelin, T., Fedorenko, V., Karvonen, R., Kovalenko, A., Lehikoinen, S., Petkov, N., Szilágy, A., Tar, J., Timonen, S., Timoshenko, A., Zhadan, K. & Zuban, I. 2018. Estimating the autumn staging abundance of migratory goose species in northern Kazakhstan. Wildfowl 68: 44-69.

Keywords: Anser erythropus, Branta ruficollis, flyway population estimates, sampling methodology.

Abstract:

Northern Kazakhstan and adjoining areas of Russia have vitally important autumn staging sites for arctic breeding geese, especially for the globally threatened Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus (LWfG) and Red-breasted Goose Branta ruficollis (RbG). Part of the Fennoscandian and the entire Western Main subpopulations of LWfG and the global population of RbGs are believed to stage there, which facilitates obtaining up-to-date population estimates for these species. A total of 80 lakes were surveyed across four survey areas in autumn 2016, recording more than 1.2 million geese in the region. Greater White-fronted Geese Anser albifrons (GWfG) were the most abundant with an estimated c. 890,000 birds, with counts of c. 250,000 Greylag Geese Anser anser, c. 53,000 Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea, c. 39,100 RbG and c. 32,000 LWfG also recorded during the surveys. Based on a priori lake classification for both LWfG and RbG, to stratify survey lakes in order to generate total population estimates, survey teams visited a sample of different lake types. After removing lakes smaller than the observed minimum lake size used by each species, the total number of potential lakes available within the core staging areas of each species (335 lakes of > 320 ha for LWfG; 361 lakes of > 100 ha for RbG) was calculated. Bootstrapping procedures, with replacement, were then used to estimate the total numbers likely to be present in the region. These calculations produced total estimates of 34,250 birds (95% confidence intervals = 28,500–40,100 birds) for the Western Main population of LWfG (well in excess of current population estimates of 8,000–13,000 individuals) and an estimated population of 50,100 RbG (95% CI = 28,100–72,600 birds), broadly similar to recent population estimates of 55,000–57,000. We recommend that future surveys continue to monitor as large a region and as many lakes as possible in order to capture inter-annual variation in the distribution of birds and to provide more reliable assessments of population size and trends of these migratory species.

Literature type: Report

Language: English

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Full reference: Cuthbert, R. & Aarvak, T. 2017. Population estimates and survey methods for migratory goose species in Northern Kazakhstan. , AEWA Lesser White-fronted Goose International Working Group Report Series No. 5. Bonn, Germany. 96pp.

Keywords: population estimate, population size, survey, Kazakhstan, Russia, Kostanay, Kustanay, Akmola, North Kazakhstan,

Literature type: Scientific

Journal: Bird Conservation International

Volume: 26 , Pages: 397-417.

DOI: 10.1017/S0959270915000386

Language: English

Full reference: Jia, Q., Koyama, K., Choi, C.-Y., Kim, H.-J., Cao, L., Liu, G. & Fox, A. 2016. Population estimates and geographical distributions of swans and geese in East Asia based on counts during the non-breeding season. Bird Conservation International 26: 397-417. https://www.dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0959270915000386

Keywords: Population size, survey, South Korea, Japan, China,

Abstract:

For the first time, we estimated the population sizes of two swan species and four goose species from observations during the non-breeding period in East Asia. Based on combined counts from South Korea, Japan and China, we estimated the total abundance of these species as follows: 42,000–47,000 Whooper Swans Cygnus cygnus; 99,000–141,000 Tundra Swans C. columbianus bewickii; 56,000–98,000 Swan Geese Anser cygnoides; 157,000–194,000 Bean Geese A. fabalis; 231,000–283,000 Greater White-fronted Geese A. albifrons; and 14,000–19,000 Lesser White-fronted Geese A. erythropus. While the count data from Korea and Japan provide a good reflection of numbers present, there remain gaps in the coverage in China, which particularly affect the precision of the estimates for Bean, Greater and Lesser White-fronted Geese as well as Tundra Swans. Lack of subspecies distinction of Bean Geese in China until recently also limits our ability to determine the true status of A. f. middendorffii there, but all indications suggest this population numbers around 18,000 individuals and is in need of urgent attention. The small, highly concentrated and declining numbers of Lesser White-fronted Geese give concern for this species, as do the major declines in Greater White-fronted Geese in China (in contrast to numbers in Japan and Korea, considered to be a separate flyway). In the absence of any demographic data, it is impossible to interpret the causes of these changes in abundance. Improved monitoring, including demographic and tracking studies are required to provide the necessary information to retain populations in favourable conservation status.

Literature type: Scientific

Journal: Bird Conservation International

Volume: 18 , Pages: 71-86.

DOI: 10.1017/S0959270908000087

Language: English

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Full reference: Schielzeth, H., Eichhorn, G., Heinicke, T., Kamp, J., Koshkin, M.A. & Lachmann, L. 2008. Waterbird population estimates for a key staging site in Kazakhstan: a contribution to wetland conservation on the Central Asian flyway. Bird Conservation International 18: 71-86. https://www.dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0959270908000087

Keywords: monitoring

Literature type: Scientific

Journal: Biological conservation

Volume: 141 , Pages: 2301-2309.

DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2008.06.022

Language: English

Full reference: Cao, L., Barter, M. & Lei, G. 2008. New Anatidae population estimates for eastern China: Implications for current flyway estimates. Biological conservation 141: 2301-2309. https://www.dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2008.06.022

Keywords: Anatidae, China, East Asia, Population estimate, Yangtze

Abstract:

Soundly-based conservation plans for Anatidae require abundance and distributional data to provide accurate estimation of population sizes and trends and to identify key sites for protection. Here, we report the first ever extensive surveys throughout eastern China’s wetlands for Anatidae, 80% of which occurred in the Yangtze floodplain. Population estimates for 24 species with sufficient data are provided, allowing assessment of the accuracy of current flyway population estimates; fourteen species are far less numerous than previously believed and three far more numerous. Further improvement of the population estimates for eastern China will need coordinated counts across the region requiring a large, skilled counter network.

Literature type: Report

Language: English

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Full reference: Rose, P.M. & Scott, D.A. 1994. Waterfowl population estimates. , International Waterfowl and Wetlands Research Bureau (IWRB Spec. Publ. 29), Slimbridge, U.K.

Keywords: status

Number of results: 6