The migrations of Finnish Bean Geese Anser fabalis in 1978–2011

Abstract

Bean Geese Anser fabalis have been neck-banded extensively in the breeding areas in northern Finland during two periods: 1978–1994 and 2002–2009. The observations of these geese showed marked differences in timing of migration and location of wintering and staging areas between the two periods. The Bean Geese stayed further to the north in south Sweden during the autumn in the latter period and arrived later to wintering areas in southernmost Sweden. Moreover they did not go to the Netherlands and western Germany during cold winters in the second as they did in the first period. Spring migration started earlier in the second period. Most patterns revealed by the Finnish neck-banded geese were the same as those shown by the Bean Geese in general as observed by the national goose counts in southern Sweden.