Habitat management

The project conducted habitat restoration and management actions in Estonia and Hungary in order to provide safe and favourable feeding and roosting conditions for the Lesser White-fronted Geese along the migratory journey. In Estonia, the Haeska islets on the Matsalu Bay were restored into low-growth meadow, a perfect roosting place for the LWfG next to their favourite feeding grounds. In Hungary, the aim of the various management actions was that LWfG could remain in safe areas and feed without disturbance within Hortobágy National Park. This way the risk for LWfG of being shot is significantly lower, and the LWfG can use the feeding time more efficiently. This, in turn, contributes to a better body condition of LWfG, and better prospects for survival of LWfG.

Habitat management in Estonia
Habitat management in Hungary

Restoration and management of Lesser White-fronted Goose habitats: Haeska Islets, Matsalu Bay, Estonia

In 2005, the restoration of the Haeska islets was started. A contract in order to manage a part of Haeska islets was made with the local farmer. Beef cattle, owned by a local farmer co-operating with the project, was grazing on the Suurrahu Islet (10 ha) in the summer. Reed collection on Väikerahu Islet was started in January 2006.

In 2006, ca 10 ha of reed-bed was mowed in February and 10 ha of grass and reed-bed was mowed in July on Suurrahu. Reed collection on Väikerahu was started in January, 2 ha of reed-bed was mowed, collected and transported to the mainland. In Mid-August, a restoration camp was held by the project in mid-August. Ca 7 ha of the reedbed of the Väike Rahu Islet was removed (more than half of the total area of the islet) by the camp. On the Suur Rahu islet, 40 ha of the reed was removed. Beef cattle was grazing on the islets in the summer.

Haeska Islets seen from the Haeska birdwatching tower before the management actions. © Petteri Tolvanen, September 2005

During the restoration camp on the Haeska islets in August 2006, the reed was mown, collected and burned by Finnish and Estonian volunteers. © Petteri Tolvanen

Haeska Islets seen from the Haeska birdwatching tower in the beginning of April 2007. © Petteri Tolvanen

In 2007, ca12 ha was managed on Suurrahu by reed-cutting in March. Grazing on Väikerahustarted in mid-May, and a fence was contructed. 80 individuals of beef-cattle were grazing on both islands till the middle of August when storm broke the fence and the cattle escaped to the mainland. Ca 11 ha was managed during the summer on Väikerahu and ca 60 haby grazing. Both islets were in favourable condition for birds already in spring after the restoration camp (2006) and used frequently by migrating birds. For the first time during the active monitoring history in Haeska, the Lesser White-fronts used the managed part of both islets for feeding and roosting in several occasions in spring. During bird counts in May and in early June, several pairs of meadow birds were found to nest on the islets, e.g. eight pairs of Southern Dunlin (Calidris alpina schinzii) and 13 pairs of Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus).

In 2008, grazing on Väikerahu started in June. 85 individuals of beef-cattle were grazing onthe isletstill the beginning of September when the fence was removed for winter and cattle were brought to the mainland. On Väikerahu ca 11 haand on Suurrahu ca 60 ha was managed by grazing. The islets were visited by monitoring specialists twice during vegetation period. The managed part of Väikerahu was correctly grazed and cowered by low coastal meadow vegetation. In May several pairs of meadow birds were found to nest on the both islets, e.g. 5 pairs of Southern Dunlin and 16 pairs of Lapwing. On Väikerahu, a pair of Marsh Sandpiper (Tringa stagnatilis) was nesting. This is the first ever breeding record of the species in the Matsalu National Park.

Providing safe feeding and roosting areas for Lesser White-fronted Geese by habitat management in the Hortobágy National Park, Hungary

Evaluation of space use by Lesser White-fronted Geese and exposure of Lesser White-fronted Geese to hunting

As a preparatory action, we studied the space use of Lesser White-fronted Geese in the Hortobágy region between the years 1971 and 2006. We collected and digitised all reliable localities of LWfG occurrences and analysed them against data on hunting intensity characterized by hunting bag data. The most characteristic change in space use overthis periodwas a north-eastern shift in the sites used for roosting and feeding. Although this shift can be explained by progressively lower disturbance and favourable changes in the habitats in central and northern sites, increasing hunting in areas of Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok county bordering Hortobágy National Park from the W and the SW is also shown to be related to the changing patterns. There are relatively few observations of LWfG on arable lands, which may be related to the fact that LWfG are often scattered in large flocks of other geese in agricultural areas. Goose hunting in areas surrounding Hortobágy National Park had increased between 1971 and 1982, then decreased and stagnated until 1997, after which there was another peak (in 2000). In some counties, goose-hunting has increased (Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok, Heves, Békés) after the 2000 peak, in some others (Hajdú-Bihar), it decreased. A detailed study of the spatial distribution of hunting from 2001 to 2004 showed that the areas where LWfG are threatened by accidental shooting lie W and SW as well as NE from Hortobágy National Park, and include the townships of Tiszacsege, Egyek, Tiszafüred-Kócsújfalu, Nagyiván and Kunmadaras, Karcag and Túrkeve to the W and Nádudvar and Hajdúszoboszló to the SE, and Hajdúböszörmény to the NE. Of all these, hunting in the areas W and SW from the National Park appear to exert the greatest influence on space use by LWfG in the Hortobágy region.

Providing safe feeding areas on arable lands for Lesser White-fronted Geese

The aim of this action was to provide foraging sites for LWfG in autumn in safe (hunting free) protected arable lands located in the Hortobágy National Park. To achieve this, crops grown extensively were provided for LWfG in areas managed by the HNP. This action (subaction 1) was implemented each year from 2006 to 2008 within the HNP on ca 150 ha annually. The area managed this way was frequently visited not only by Cranes, Greylag and White-fronted Geese, but also by LWfG.

Another objective of this action was to ensure that LWfG get accustomed to feeding on arable lands situated in safe areas, and in case of scanty food resources they find supplementary food on protected areas. Within the framework of this action (subaction 2) crops were purchased from farmers located outside the boundaries of the HNP and placed out for LWfG in protected agricultural areas (44 - 63 ha annually) where crops grown in the given year did not attract the species. Cranes, Greylag and Greater White-fronted Geese frequently fed on these areas, and on some occasions LWfG were also observed in the arable lands managed this way.

A corn field of 40 ha inside the Hortobágy national park is being cultivated as a part of the project, in order to provide a safe feeding site for the Lesser White-fronts.Later on, the corn will be mown and left on the ground. © Petteri Tolvanen, September 2006

Grassland improvement by grazing and irrigation to provide food for Lesser White-fronted Geese

The aim of this action was to improve the quality of natural food resources (grasslands) in safe areas within the Hortobágy National Park before the arrival of the LWfG in autumn. The most important food for LWfG is newly sprouted Festuca and Puccinellia grasses, as well as halophyte plants. To realise this aim, in 2006-2008 altogether ca 200-300 hectares annually was grazed by cattle at three locations, in Dinnyés-lapos, Cserepes and Rókás. 

In late August and early September the most important, heavily grazed feeding sites (70 ha each year except for 2006, when due to the extremely wet and cold summer irrigation was not necessary) were irrigated for two or three weeks to promote new sprouting of grasses after the summer. 

 

The results of the action were very good: the LWfG visited both the grazed and irrigated tracts regularly, and as a result, towards the end of the project, the LWfG flock stayed on the project sites practically all their time spent in the Hortobágy.

 

Dinnyés lapos, an important feeding site for Lesser White-fronts in the Hortobágy National Park © János Tar

Improvement and maintenance of roosting sites of Lesser White-fronted Geese by flooding

The aim of this action was to provide roosting sites with adequate water levels for LWfG in the Hortobágy fish ponds and in Dinnyés-lapos. To achieve this, the pools were kept at an adequately low water level for LWfG. In 2006 the water level of Kondás fish pond, in 2007 that of Kondás and the pool no 6, and in 2008 that of the Kondás were adjusted to the ecological requirements of LWfG. In late summer 2007 and in 2008 Dinnyés-lapos was flooded to inundate the short-grass pastures adjacent to it as well. In 2007 Bocza-lapos was also inundated due to drought in autumn.

 

By this action LWfG were provided with a safe night roosting site in protected areas, and, at the same time good quality feeding sites were also ensured.  As a result,  LWfG spent practically all of their time in the project sites in the Hortobágy National Park, and thus their protection was ensured.

Modified 2009-7-1