There are two distinct races of White-fronted Goose, the European one which breeds in western Russia and overwinters in southern and eastern Britain, and the Greenland one which breeds in Greenland and overwinters in the north of Britain and Ireland. About 10,000-12,000 Greenland White-fronted Geese overwinter in the UK out of a population of about 20,000 globally. Islay and Wexford Slobs in Ireland host two major overwintering populations, with smaller satellite populations across Scotland, including RSPB Loch Lomond in Gartocharn.
Greenland White-fronted Goose is on the Scottish Biodiversity List, which identifies the species that are of the most importance to biodiversity in Scotland. It is also on the UK Birds of Conservation Concern Red List.
Photos: Andy Hay for rspb-images.com
Illustration: Mike Langman for rspb-images.com
Action Needed
We need to maintain and accelerate our efforts to tackle climate change, as this is inextricably intertwined with nature loss.
We need to support landowners in areas where geese overwinter, including through increased funding for nature-friendly farming and agricultural advisory services. RSPB Scotland is calling for the nature-friendly farming budget to increase from 5% of the overall farming budget in 2025 to 25% in 2026 and then gradually increase to 75% by 2031.
We also need to protect and restore wetland habitats. The Scottish Government has promised to make regulations to protect Ramsar sites, which are wetland areas of international importance, through the Natural Environment Act. We need this provision to be acted on, and for the targets for nature restoration promised under the Act to deliver real benefits for our wetland areas.
Special Protection Areas, some of our best sites for nature, need continued protection under the planning system, and funding needs to be secured for management measures which would bring all protected areas into favourable condition.
Threats
Greenland White-fronted Goose has declined since the mid-20th Century. The cause of this is low productivity compared to deaths, but the full causes of this are not yet understood and further research is needed. Potential contributing factors include climate change, increased competition with Canada Geese in Greenland, and changes in diet or difficulty finding the right kind of food.
Local declines have been caused by loss or change to wetland feeding habitat, human disturbance, hunting, and collision with wind turbines.
Citation: British Trust for Ornithology
MSP Nature Champion
