56
©Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust
Wildfowl
(2013) 63: 56–71
Barnacle Goose
Branta leucopsis
abundance on
Kolguev Island – current status and history of
population growth
ALEXANDER KONDRATYEV
1
*, ELMIRA ZAYNAGUTDINOVA
2
& HELMUT KRUCKENBERG
3
1
Institute of Biological Problems of the North, FEB RAS, Portovaya str. 18,
Magadan, Russia.
2
St-Petersburg State University, Universitetskaya emb. 7/9, St-Petersburg, Russia.
3
Institute for Waterbird and Wetlands Research (IWWR) e.V. Germany, Am Steigbügel 3,
D-27283 Verden (Aller), Germany.
*Correspondence author. E-mail:
Abstract
Barnacle Geese
Branta leucopsis
first colonised the Russian arctic island of Kolguev in
the early 1980s, since when their numbers have steadily grown. Initial colonies were
founded on fox-free coastal sand spits, but by the mid-1990s large colonies (> 5,000
breeding pairs) had become established in the Peschanka River delta, reaching 45,000
breeding pairs by the mid-2000s. Subsequently, numerous new smaller colonies
(mean ± s.d. = 12 ± 6 nesting pairs, range = 1–54,
n
= 18 colonies) started to increase
in numbers in the central part of the island, initially associated with
c
. 30% of all
known Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinus
nests in the study area. The overall population
size and number of inland colonies continued to grow, and by 2011–2012 all 24
known Peregrine Falcon nests had Barnacle Goose colonies (mean colony size = 54
± 40 pairs, range = 1–133,
n
= 13 colonies). White-fronted Geese
Anser albifrons
and
Tundra Bean Geese
Anser fabalis rossicus
formerly recorded nesting in dense colonies
around Peregrine Falcon nests no longer did so, apparently having been expelled
from core areas by the earlier nesting and more aggressive Barnacle Geese. The
hatching success of Barnacle Geese nesting in the open sedge-moss bogs of central
Kolguev (first occupied in 2011–2012) was no different to those associating with
Peregrine Falcons (73% and 75% respectively). During brood rearing and moulting,
Barnacle Geese share feeding habitats with other goose species. Should their
numbers continue to grow on the island, further overgrazing of foraging habitats
may increase competition between Barnacle Geese and White-fronted Geese for
food, both in brood-rearing and in moulting habitats.
Key words:
Barnacle Geese, nesting success, population growth.
