The Red-breasted goose Branta ruficollis (Pallas, 1769) and the Lesser white-fronted goose Anser erythropus (Linnaeus, 1758) are rare bird species nesting in the Arctic tundra zone of Eurasia usually ...in association with Peregrine falcons Falco peregrinus Tunstull, 1771. The Red-breasted goose, which has a vulnerable status according to the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), currently has a positive population trend. The Lesser white-fronted goose with the same status, on the contrary, is declining in numbers. Both species are under the scrutiny of geese specialists. To identify the possible nesting of these species, suitable steep banks of the Indik'yakha River were surveyed in the south of the Gydan Peninsula. In 2019, six nesting aggregations of Red-breasted goose were discovered with a total number of 11 pairs in association with Peregrine falcons. In 2021, only two nesting localities with three pairs of geese were found in the same area, and in 2022 three localities each with a pair of geese. In addition, in 2022, three nesting sites of Lesser white-fronted goose were registered, also with a pair of birds in each place. In one case, the Lesser white-fronted goose and the Red-breasted goose nested in one place together. The new findings of their nesting are the southernmost nesting sites in the south of the Gydan Peninsula, providing important information for their conservation management and monitoring needs to continue.
•Correctly identifying zoological specimens depicted in historical art can be very challenging.•Use of Tobias criteria in species delimitation relies on appropriate sample sizes and adherence to the ...guidelines.•The ‘Meidum geese’ are most parsimoniously identified as red-breasted geese Branta ruficollis.
Romilio (2021) used a taxonomic scoring system to compare differences between three species of geese (Anseriformes) depicted in the Chapel of Itet, one of which he speculated might represent an undescribed (presumably now extinct) species. Despite some apparently distinctive features, the depiction has traditionally been associated with the well-known modern species, red-breasted goose (Branta ruficollis). We discuss limitations in applying the Tobias et al. (2010) scoring system to cases such as this, for which it was not designed, and we outline the many pitfalls that must be considered when attempting to identify historical artwork of birds using examples discussed recently in the ornithological literature. We conclude that the illustrations proposed by Romilio to represent a new Branta goose species are within the range of known plumage variation and potential artistic licence for red-breasted goose, and that this very probably is the species upon which the artwork was based. More generally, we caution against applying the Tobias criteria to cases where a series of specimens cannot be measured, and highlight the difficulties of using illustrations to inform taxonomy.
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•A molecular phylogeny for the True Geese using an exon-based phylogenomic approach.•Gene trees indicate incomplete lineage sorting and hybridization in certain clades.•Most ...speciation events were dated to the late Pliocene and early Pleistocene.
Phylogenetic incongruence can be caused by analytical shortcomings or can be the result of biological processes, such as hybridization, incomplete lineage sorting and gene duplication. Differentiation between these causes of incongruence is essential to unravel complex speciation and diversification events. The phylogeny of the True Geese (tribe Anserini, Anatidae, Anseriformes) was, until now, contentious, i.e., the phylogenetic relationships and the timing of divergence between the different goose species could not be fully resolved. We sequenced nineteen goose genomes (representing seventeen species of which three subspecies of the Brent Goose, Branta bernicla) and used an exon-based phylogenomic approach (41,736 exons, representing 5887 genes) to unravel the evolutionary history of this bird group. We thereby provide general guidance on the combination of whole genome evolutionary analyses and analytical tools for such cases where previous attempts to resolve the phylogenetic history of several taxa could not be unravelled. Identical topologies were obtained using either a concatenation (based upon an alignment of 6,630,626 base pairs) or a coalescent-based consensus method. Two major lineages, corresponding to the genera Anser and Branta, were strongly supported. Within the Branta lineage, the White-cheeked Geese form a well-supported sub-lineage that is sister to the Red-breasted Goose (Branta ruficollis). In addition, two main clades of Anser species could be identified, the White Geese and the Grey Geese. The results from the consensus method suggest that the diversification of the genus Anser is heavily influenced by rapid speciation and by hybridization, which may explain the failure of previous studies to resolve the phylogenetic relationships within this genus. The majority of speciation events took place in the late Pliocene and early Pleistocene (between 4 and 2millionyears ago), conceivably driven by a global cooling trend that led to the establishment of a circumpolar tundra belt and the emergence of temperate grasslands. Our approach will be a fruitful strategy for resolving many other complex evolutionary histories at the level of genera, species, and subspecies.
The red-breasted goose Branta ruficollis is a globally threatened species (IUCN Vulnerable) and the only European goose species currently in decline. Working on the wintering grounds on the Black Sea ...Coast, we address two potential causes of decline of this species for the first time: lead poisoning, and contamination from pesticides. We quantified the densities of spent Pb shot in three wetlands used by the geese in north-east Bulgaria, and analysed the Pb concentration in the faeces of red-breasted geese and the more abundant greater white-fronted geese Anser albifrons, using Al concentration as an indicator of soil ingestion. Pb shot densities in sediments were low, and we found no evidence for Pb shot ingestion in red-breasted geese. On the other hand, we found that the geese were feeding on wheat whose seeds were treated with four fungicides: thiram, tebuconazole, difenoconazole and fludioxonil, and the two first were even detected in geese faecal samples. Using data on the daily food intake, we estimated the exposure levels of the geese to these fungicides, both by measuring the concentrations remaining on seeds and by estimating the amount used to coat the seeds at the time of sowing. We found that the exposure rates estimated during the sowing period for both geese species can exceed the recognized hazardous doses for thiram, and to a lesser extent for tebuconazole, which indicates that some pesticides may be playing a previously overlooked role in the decline of red-breasted geese.
•The risk of lead poisoning in the red-breasted goose was low in the study area.•Four fungicides were detected in the potential diet of the red-breasted goose.•The estimated ingestion rate of thiram treated seeds may exceed hazardous doses for geese.•The risk of pesticide exposure must be considered in conservation strategies for the red-breasted goose.
The management of Arctic migrant geese is complex, because they frequently use landscapes under intensive human use, and are conflict species in multiple respects. Some populations are of high ...conservation concern, but they also cause agricultural damage, are quarry for hunters, and may be particularly sensitive to infrastructure developments. In Bulgarian Dobrudzha, large wintering populations of greater white-fronted geese
Anser albifrons
and red-breasted geese
Branta ruficollis
feed in agricultural land, and cause management dilemmas. We developed linear models to investigate fine- and meso-scale foraging habitat selection of geese foraging on winter wheat in the area, and used these models to make suggestions for zoning landscape use in order to reduce conflict and conserve geese. Habitat selection was scale-dependent. Geese selected fields that were near to major roosts and had low proximity to roads and tree-lines, which may be a proxy for hunting disturbance. We found some evidence for selection of wheat fields with high nutritional quality. Within fields, geese strongly avoided features which cause landscape ‘clutter’: power-lines, tree-lines and wind-turbines, but primarily over distances of less than a few hundred metres. Optimal management might involve encouraging goose populations to feed in areas close to roosts, by means of agri-environmental measures and creation of hunting-free refuges. This would allow efficient use of agri-environment funds, might reduce conflict with farmers, and would mean that infrastructure development—notably wind farms—could be sited at greater distance from roosts with relatively minor impact on foraging habitat availability.
This report by the Slovenian Rarities Committee presents records of rare bird species in Slovenia in 2017, with some addenda for previous years. The numbers in brackets refer to the number of records ...(first number) and individuals (second number) recorded between 1 Jan 1950 and 31 Dec 2016. Since 1 Jan 2013, submission to the Committee has been required for 37 additional species, 17 of which are regional rarities. Records of these species are not numbered, since records from previous years were not collected by the Committee. The Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis was first recorded in Category A, in addition to previous Category D and E records. Other notable observations were the third record of Red-breasted Goose Branta ruficollis, fifth records of Lammergeier Gypaetus barbatus and Pomarine Skua Stercorarius pomarinus, and seventh records of Greater Blackbacked Gull Larus marinus and Red Phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius. The list of birds recorded in Slovenia (as of 31 Dec 2017) contains 390 species (375 in Category A, 6 in Category B, 9 exclusively in Category C; 4 species are both in Categories A and C). Category D contains 7 species, while Category E contains 39, two of which are classified into Subcategory E*. These two categories are not part of the list.
On 2 Nov 2008, a Red-breasted Goose Branta ruficollis was observed at Ptujsko jezero reservoir (UTM WM63, NE Slovenia) while, a day later, presumably the same individual was noted and photographed at ...Medvedce reservoir (UTM WM53, NE Slovenia). These places are some 18 km apart. The observation is the first record of the Red-breasted Goose's occurrence in Slovenia. It was confirmed by the National Rarities Committee, which placed the observation in Category A (Species recorded in an apparently natural state at least once since 1 Jan 1950). In view of the fact that the bird appeared timid and was not ringed, the author presumes that a naturally occurring individual was at stake, in particular because of the increasing trend of wintering populations moving towards the west and also because of the increasing number of observations made in the neighbouring countries. The article also presents the status of the species in the countries adjacent to Slovenia.
We tested the predator protection and similar habitat hypotheses in relation to red-breasted goose,Branta ruficollis , nesting associations. Geese began laying 1–3 weeks after all associated species. ...In almost all cases they nested on the mainland only if raptors were also present and always followed raptors when they changed eyries between years. They selected peregrines, Falco peregrinus, and snowy owls, Nyctea scandiaca, as associates in preference to rough-legged buzzards, Buteo lagopus, even though the latter were several times more abundant along river corridors. Nest defence experiments with a surrogate Arctic fox, Alopex lagopus, showed that this could be explained by differences in nest defence intensity, rather than habitat types selected. Similar experiments also suggested that gulls were much less aggressive than owls or falcons. Foxes rarely approached, and were easily repelled from goose colonies associated with owls and peregrines, but gulls were apparently incapable of repelling foxes. Breeding success was much higher for geese nesting with raptors than for those on islands and geese apparently preferred to nest with owls in peak lemming years than to remain on islands. These findings support the hypothesis that red-breasted geese actively choose to nest near raptors; however, they probably associate with gulls primarily because both species select fox-free islands. Compared with other studies, red-breasted geese nesting with raptors and on islands apparently represent two extremes in a continuum of nesting associations generally seen in birds. We discuss why the behaviour might have evolved and argue that this may be the only known bird species whose evolution has been facilitated primarily by the exploitation of the nest defence behaviour of aggressive raptorial hosts. Copyright 2003 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
The studies were carried out in 2000–2007, 2010 and 2012–2014 along the Agapa River from the upper reaches downstream to the mouth, the western part of the central Taimyr Peninsula, and in the ...vicinities of the Medusa Bay, in the northwestern part of the Taimyr Peninsula. On the off-shore islands, brent geese nest in pairs or in small groups that join the colonies of the Taimyr herring gull (
Larus argentatus taimyrensis
). In addition, these geese form their own colonies of several dozens of nests. These colonies are not related to gull colonies even if the latter exist on the same island. Mixed multi-species colonies with the brent goose prevalence are less dense than those where gulls prevail. The gulls that breed near the colonies, where brent geese prevail, place their nests at such distances from the nearest geese nests that are approximately identical to the distances between the nests of brent geese. In the colonies with the prevalence of gulls, brent geese also nest with approximately the same density as gulls, fitting into the colony as a spatially equal element. In the red-breasted geese, in contrast to brent geese, the nesting density does not correspond to that of the gulls. Red-breasted geese behave either as a foreign element within a gull colony and establish their own nests very close to gull nests up to evicting gulls from their places or as outside strangers that breed at some distance from gull colonies.
Summary In 2017, the International Waterbird Census (IWC) was carried out in Slovenia on January 14 and 15. Waterbirds were counted on all larger rivers, along the entire Slovenian Coastland and on ...most of the major standing waters in the country. During the census, in which 235 observers took part, 413 sections of the rivers and coastal sea with a total length of 1,427 km and 200 other localities (164 standing waters and 36 streams) were surveyed. The census was characterized by harsh winter conditions and high proportion of frozen water bodies. Altogether, 51,790 waterbirds of 61 species were counted. Thus, the number of waterbirds and the number of species recorded were close to the 21-year average. The highest numbers of waterbirds were counted in the Drava count area, i.e. 20,064 individuals (38.7% of all waterbirds in Slovenia). By far the most numerous species was Mallard Anas platyrhynchos (46.1% of all waterbirds), followed by Coot Fulica atra (6.8% of all waterbirds), Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo (5.9% of all waterbirds), Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus (5.7% of all waterbirds) and Mute Swan Cygnus olor (3.9% of all waterbirds). The number of 1,000 counted individuals was also surpassed by Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis , Teal An. crecca , Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula , White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons , Pygmy Cormorant P. pygmeus and Grey Heron Ardea cinerea . Among the rarer recorded species, the Red-breasted Goose Branta ruficollis (registered for the first time during the January Waterbird Censuses and only for the third time ever in Slovenia) and Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis (the first probable A category individual for IWC and Slovenia) deserve special mention. Numbers of the following species were the highest so far recorded during the IWC: Mandarin Duck Aix galericulata (together with 2006 and 2012), Pintail An. acuta , Ferruginous Duck Ay. nyroca , Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis (together with 2003), Goosander Mergus merganser , Pygmy Cormorant, Herring Gull L. argentatus and Caspian Gull L. cachinnans . Number of Pochards Ay. ferina was the lowest so far recorded during the IWC.
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