| The breeding population in SW Scania was established in the late 1960s
and early 1970s as the Greylag Goose started to recolonize its former distribution area in
Sweden as well as in other countries. In 1985 about 120 pairs were found, numbers
increasing to around 500 pairs in 1992-1996, after which a new increase was noted and the
breeding population in 1998 amounting to about 760 pairs, then decreasing to about 700
pairs in 1999. In the spring 2000 there were again more geese in the study area and the
minimum estimate was 770 pairs, most probably the population was close to 800 pairs when
late arriving pairs are taken into consideration. At the same time as the population
increased in the main study lakes there was a spread of Greylag pairs to small water areas
within the study area. There was also a dispersal of Greylag pairs to other wetland areas
in the neigbourhood. In the spring 2001 the population had again made a big increase and
there were very close to 1000 pairs counted in the study area.
The increase
continued and the population in the study area peaked at close to 1400
pairs in 2004. The the total number of pairs decreased in the following two
years. In 2005, 2006 and 2008 total number of pairs was around 1200, but it was
even lower in 2006, probably being related to a cold period in spring.
Number of pairs were apreciably lower in 2009 and especially 2010. The
latter year being cahracterized by a winter that was much colder than
for many years.
For details on the different lakes in the study area and a map
showing the geographical position of the study area and the separate lakes
follow the link to Study areas.
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