<< Globally threatened species

Red-breasted Goose

* General information * Summarised results of wintering inventory of Red-breasted Goose in Ukraine in 2003-2006 * 4th annual Red-breasted Goose winter counts in Ukraine, season 2006-2007 *

Red-breasted Goose Winter Inventory in Ukraine, 2006-2007 season

(Photo SOR)

This winter, Ukrainian Society for the Protection of Birds participated in the 4th Annual Red-breasted Goose Winter Inventory under the framework of the international monitoring scheme simultaneously with BidLife partners from Bulgaria and Romania. The 4th Annual Red-breasted Goose Winter Inventory in Ukraine was financially supported by Vogelbescherming Nederland.

During three winter months, six teams carried out field surveys of the species key wintering grounds located in Southern Ukraine: Odessa, Mykolayiv, Kherson regions and Crimea.

This year, first Red-breasted geese arrived in Ukraine at the end of October and main part of the wintering population flew in the second-third decades of November 2006. First simultaneous counts of the species were carried out on December 15-18, 2006. In general, 1,965 Red-breasted geese were counted during the December count. Analysis of results demonstrates that more than 85% of Red-breasted Goose concentrated in Kherson region and Crimea. Number of the Red-breasted Goose in Odessa and Mykolayiv regions was unusually small for this winter period (totally 151 birds).

Warm weather from mid-December 2006 to mid-January 2007 likely forced geese to diffusively distribute throughout the Azov-Black sea region of Ukraine. Meantime, the inventory of the Red-breasted Goose that was carried out on January 13-14, 2007 showed that the species mostly concentrated on several key sites in Kherson region and Crimea. In particularly, more than 95% of Red-breasted geese concentrated there in January. However, general number of the Red-breasted Goose was very small — 2,877 birds.

Photo: Mladlen Vasilev (BSPB)

Data on the Red-breasted Goose inventory in February 15-18, 2007 revealed very large number of the species in Southern Ukraine. In particularly, general number of the Red-breasted Goose reached almost 30,000 birds. In February, more than 86.6% of the species concentrated in Kherson region and Crimea. In this region, number of the Red-breasted geese comprised 25,623 birds. Only 7 birds were observed in Mykolayiv region.

Summarized data on distribution of wintering Red-breasted geese in spring 2007 showed that the main part of the population left Azov-Black sea region of Ukraine in the first-second decades of March.

As in previous years, results of the 4th Annual Red-breasted Goose Winter Inventory indicate instable character of its wintering grouping in the Azov-Black sea region of Ukraine. Main factors of instability are as follows:

• unusual (unstable) weather conditions;
• poor feeding resources on the field with winter cereal crops;
• disturbance of the birds by hunters during the hunting season; and
• disturbance of the birds by hunters during the shutoff seasons.

Comparative analysis of the data on the Red-breasted Goose numbers collected during 2003-2007 inventory seasons (see table below) shows that this year it was the first time when 30,000 birds of this species were observed in Ukraine. These data do not leave any doubts about important role of the Azov-Black sea region of Ukraine in conservation of this globally threatened species - the Red-breasted Goose.

This winter the project also included publication of the leaflet on Red-breasted Goose conservation. 1000 copies of a leaflet were disseminated within the Azov-Black sea region in Ukraine.

In general, project results have an important scientific value mostly for understanding the mechanism of establishment of wintering groups, analysis of weather impact upon distribution of the wintering birds within the area, terms of stay and time of geese departure from the Azov-Black sea region.

Number of Red-breasted Goose by the Seasons

USPB recommendations on conservation of the Red-breasted Geese
in Ukraine

Despite the long-term legal protection status of the Red-breasted Goose in Ukraine (Red Data Book of Ukraine, 1994), its practical conservation in wintering grounds is still inadequate. Red-breasted geese are still persecuted in the region by hunters; geese die as a result of both accidental and intentional shooting. Almost 1,000 Red-breasted geese die from illegal hunting every year. Besides inadequate practical conservation, there is insufficient control of game bags and absence of any economic incentives for the species conservation. There were no cases of imposing a penalty on hunters for killing the Red-breasted geese in Ukraine during 25 years of geese monitoring in the Azov-Black sea region of Ukraine.

The project executors propose to develop a comprehensive programme for hunters that should include the following activity:

• providing training for hunters on identification of Red-breasted Goose in nature (lectures and field trips);
• preparing large colour posters for regional associations of hunters and fishermen that will include full information about the species conservation problems in Ukraine;
• joint development of temporal reserves within hunting areas, which can be used by geese (Red-breasted geese) as roosting sites;
• partner cooperation with hunters on habitat restoration (clearing of channels, garbage collection);
• installing informational boards in game husbandries that will inform about habitats important for birds;
• publishing monthly or quarterly newsletters about approaches in wildlife protection and sustainable hunting.

Photo: Lyubomir Andreyev (BSPB)

© The Ukrainian Society for the Protection of Birds  
2002-2010