Greenland White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons flavirostris) 03-02-2018
[order] Anseriformes | [family] Anatidae | [latin] Anser albifrons | [UK] Greater White-Fronted Goose | [FR] Oie rieuse | [DE] Bläßgans | [ES] Ansar Careto Grande | [IT] Oca lombardella maggiore | [NL] Kolgans
Measurements
spanwidth min.: 130 cm
spanwidth max.: 160 cm
size min.: 64 cm
size max.: 78 cm
Breeding
incubation min.: 27 days
incubation max.: 28 days
fledging min.: 40 days
fledging max.: 43 days
broods 1
eggs min.: 4
eggs max.: 6
The Greenland White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons flavirostris is one of four subspecies of the Greater White-fronted Goose. The species is fully migratory and is a winter visitor to Ireland from Arctic breeding grounds in Greenland.
The Irish wintering population has very limited geographic range and no overlap with other races, breeding solely in west Greenland, migrating in spring and autumn through south and west Iceland to wintering grounds in Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. The population of Greenland White-front Geese is small and their world range limited.
Greenland White-fronted Geese are categorised as ’Endangered’ using the IUCN‘s global Red List criteria; are listed on Annex I of the EU Directive on the conservation of wild birds. Greenland White-fronted Geese are selected as a conservation interest for a number of Special Protection Area’s in Ireland.
The Greenland White-fronted Goose is confined to roughly 80 regular sites in Ireland and Britain. Because of their high levels of site fidelity, there is limited potential for colonising new areas, re-colonising of deserted sites, or large-scale immigration from other areas to supplement declining flocks although exchange of individuals does occur regularly. The species is highly gregarious outside of the breeding season, with flocks of up to 9,000 individuals known to occur at Wexford Slobs. However, the geese are more commonly observed in small loose groups due to the patchiness of the preferred habitat.
Habitat loss and degradation is a major global threat to Greenland White-fronted Geese. In particular, disturbance by humans, wetland habitat degradation due to drainage, peat-extraction and changing management practices are threats to the feeding and roosting habitats used by this species across its range. Collision impacts with inappropriately located wind energy developments are identified as a potential threat, with a prerogative on appropriate survey and impact assessment .
Greenland White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons flavirostris) 03-02-2018
[order] Anseriformes | [family] Anatidae | [latin] Anser albifrons | [UK] Greater White-Fronted Goose | [FR] Oie rieuse | [DE] Bläßgans | [ES] Ansar Careto Grande | [IT] Oca lombardella maggiore | [NL] Kolgans
Measurements
spanwidth min.: 130 cm
spanwidth max.: 160 cm
size min.: 64 cm
size max.: 78 cm
Breeding
incubation min.: 27 days
incubation max.: 28 days
fledging min.: 40 days
fledging max.: 43 days
broods 1
eggs min.: 4
eggs max.: 6
The Greenland White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons flavirostris is one of four subspecies of the Greater White-fronted Goose. The species is fully migratory and is a winter visitor to Ireland from Arctic breeding grounds in Greenland.
The Irish wintering population has very limited geographic range and no overlap with other races, breeding solely in west Greenland, migrating in spring and autumn through south and west Iceland to wintering grounds in Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. The population of Greenland White-front Geese is small and their world range limited.
Greenland White-fronted Geese are categorised as ’Endangered’ using the IUCN‘s global Red List criteria; are listed on Annex I of the EU Directive on the conservation of wild birds. Greenland White-fronted Geese are selected as a conservation interest for a number of Special Protection Area’s in Ireland.
The Greenland White-fronted Goose is confined to roughly 80 regular sites in Ireland and Britain. Because of their high levels of site fidelity, there is limited potential for colonising new areas, re-colonising of deserted sites, or large-scale immigration from other areas to supplement declining flocks although exchange of individuals does occur regularly. The species is highly gregarious outside of the breeding season, with flocks of up to 9,000 individuals known to occur at Wexford Slobs. However, the geese are more commonly observed in small loose groups due to the patchiness of the preferred habitat.
Habitat loss and degradation is a major global threat to Greenland White-fronted Geese. In particular, disturbance by humans, wetland habitat degradation due to drainage, peat-extraction and changing management practices are threats to the feeding and roosting habitats used by this species across its range. Collision impacts with inappropriately located wind energy developments are identified as a potential threat, with a prerogative on appropriate survey and impact assessment .