GooseScare: Indirect effects of goose disturbance

Goose management is based on safeguarding (migratory) goose populations, while preventing excessive damage. Barnacle geese forage on agricultural grasslands and cause more and more conflicts because of growing numbers, later spring departure and a rapidly increasing local breeding population that no longer migrates to the Arctic. In this project we try to unravel the relationship between goose numbers and (assessed) goose damage, and investigate the link between goose visits to parcels and local damage. We also look at the use of goose accommodation areas in response to disturbance. We aim to experimentally disturb geese to see how the birds react to different levels of disturbance. Geese will be equipped with GPS/ACC transmitters to follow their flight paths and activity patterns.