GOOSE STUDY AREA IN SW SCANIA

The study area is situated in the southwesternmost part of Sweden, as can be seen on the map of south Sweden, where the general position of the area is marked with red (to see a detailed map of the region klick on the red spot). 

Marking of Greylag Geese are presently undertaken at four lakes in the western lake area: Yddingen, Fjällfotasjön, Klosterviken and Börringesjön. This area also includes Lake Björkesåkrasjön, much used by the geese. In addition to the lakes in the study area there are several small ponds and other small wetlands.

During the first year of the project neck-banding was also undertaken at Lake Snogeholmsjön in a more eastern lake area. The three other areas in the eastern lake area: Sövdesjön, Ellestadsjön and Kragheolmsjön are also important for the Greylag Geese. Important Greylag Goose numbers also occur at Lakes Krankesjön and Vombsjön.  

After the breeding season important flocks of Greylag Geese gather at suitable sites in the Öresund area in addition to forming flocks at the breeding lakes. Foteviken is the more important area and has been used by large number of Greylag Geese since the start of the project, but recently new coastal sites at Lomma and Salviken in Lommabukten have gained in importance.

Aerial photos. Follow this link to see the study areas from above.

The main study area in Southwest Scania includes the five eutrophic lakes mentioned. They are situated in a mixed rolling landscape used for agriculture but also with some small woods and areas used for grazing. To get some impressions of the lakes and the main coastal area at Foteviken, some pictures are shown below.

Detailled map. Follow this link to see a detailed map of the lakes in the marking area

 

 

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BREEDING AREAS

Four different views of Klosterviken are shown above. The lake has extensive reed beds offering good nesting places for the geese. The two lower photos show two different aspects of the grasslands east of the lake. These are cut in early summer and are also used for grazing. The area is the main feeding area for the broods from Klosterviken. The area is one of our main catching areas for Greylag Goose families, which are driven into nets put up between the border between the meadow and the reed vegetation. Flying geese have good feeding grounds on grassland and agricultural land close to the lake.
Lake Börringesjön is a larger lake situated close to Lake Klosterviken, which was formerly a bay of Börringesjön and is still connected to the larger lake by a canal. Lake Börringesjön has many shore meadows that are grazed and form good feeding grounds for the geese. It is partly surrounded by woodland but large parts are close to wide agricultural fields used as feeding areas by the adult geese.
Lake Fjällfotasjön is to a large part surrounded by woodland with only small areas of grassland close to the lake.  This makes it little more difficult for the parents to find good feeding areas for the broods then at the other lakes, especially as most grassland areas are not used anymore with quite high vegetation as seen in the picture to the right. On the other hand (as seen in hte left photo) Lake Fjällfotasjön has excellent breeding islands for the geese.
Lake Yddingen is surrounded both by grazed grassland and woodland. Extensive meadows form excellent feeding grounds for the broods close to the lakes and there are also good feeding areas at a distance for the flying adults. A number of islands and large reed beds offer excellent nest sites. On the western shore a golf course provides the geese with high quality food for extended periods.
Lake Yddingen is surrounded by many small ponds with good feeding areas close by. The broods do often move between the lake and the small ponds and also between different ponds. This pond, "Grevens Mosse" is a very good brood rearing area, where several families have been caught.
 

FOTEVIKEN

Foteviken is the last major area with saltmarshes and shore meadows at the coast of south Sweden. The meadows are grazed and have been so for long time. The bay is shallow and partly fringed with vegetation and also has a number of small islands. The surrounding areas are used for agriculture provide large areas with stubble fields, sugar beet and in winter autumn sown cereals. The bay is used for roosting by the geese.

 

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Page last updated 2011-02-22