Goose management policy review 2022
Update on progress in delivering goose management policies. this sets out proposals to refresh policies for delivery of goose management over the next 5 to 10 years and highlights emerging issues that will require actions in the medium to longer term.
Annex 5. Goose population numbers & status
Legal status of geese in Scotland
Common name Scientific name |
Birds of Conservation Concern in the UK, Channel Islands and the Isle of Man (BoCC 5) |
European Red List of Birds (2021) |
Wild Birds Directive |
Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern Convention) |
Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (Bonn Convention or CMS) |
Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Taiga Bean Goose Anser fabalis fabalis |
Amber |
Least concern |
Least concern |
Annex II (Part A) |
Appendix III |
Appendix II |
Column A, category 1c |
|
Greenland/ Iceland Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus |
Amber |
Least concern |
Least concern |
Schedule 2 |
Annex II (Part B) |
Appendix III |
Appendix II |
Column C, category 1 |
Greenland White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons flavirostris |
Red |
Least concern |
Least concern* |
Annex I |
Appendix III |
Appendix II |
Column A, category 2* |
|
Icelandic Greylag Goose Anser anser |
Amber |
Least concern |
Least concern |
Schedule 2 |
Annex II (Part A), Annex III (Part B) |
Appendix III |
Appendix II |
Column A, category 3e* |
British Greylag Goose Anser anser |
Amber |
Least concern |
Least concern |
Schedule 1 (Part II) in Outer Hebrides, Caithness, Sutherland and Wester Ross only, Schedule 2 |
Annex II (Part A), Annex III (Part B) |
Appendix III |
||
Greenland Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis |
Amber |
Least concern |
Least concern |
Annex I |
Appendix II |
Appendix II |
Column B, category 1 |
|
Svalbard Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis |
Amber |
Least concern |
Least concern |
Annex I |
Appendix II |
Appendix II |
Column A, category 3a |
|
East Atlantic Light-bellied Brent Goose Branta bernicla hrota |
Amber |
Least concern |
Least concern |
Annex II (Part B) |
Appendix III |
Appendix II |
Column A, category 2 |
|
Canadian Light-bellied Brent Goose Branta bernicla hrota |
Amber |
Least concern |
Least concern |
Annex II (Part B) |
Appendix III |
Appendix II |
Column A, category 3a 3e |
Aside from AEWA, most global and European assessments/protections are at species level e.g. Bean Goose, Greater White-fronted Goose and Brent Goose
* While Greater White-fronted Goose is Least Concern globally at species level, there is evidence that the Greenland White-fronted Goose sub-species has distinct morphology, geographical range, migration timing and maintained separation from other Greater White-fronted Goose populations. Many authors therefore consider the sub-species meets the IUCN Endangered criteria (e.g. the Greenland and Icelandic Red Lists).
Population data for migratory geese in Scotland
Common name Scientific name |
Breeding area |
Main Scottish wintering areas |
Other wintering areas |
Scottish population |
UK population |
International flyway population |
Estimate dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Taiga Bean Goose Anser fabilis fabilis |
Central Scandinavia |
Slamannan Plateau, Falkirk |
Yare Valley, Norfolk & Denmark |
217 |
222 |
1,500/ 66,472^ |
2021/22 |
Greenland/Iceland Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus |
East Greenland & Iceland |
Central & Eastern Scotland |
Lancashire & Norfolk |
268,575 |
418,271 |
418,501 |
Oct 2021 |
Greenland White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons flavirostris |
West Greenland |
Galloway, Argyll, Loch Lomond, Outer Hebrides, Caithness & Orkney |
Dyfi Estuary, Wales & Eire |
9,687 |
9,738 |
18,027 |
Spring 2022 |
Icelandic Greylag Goose Anser anser |
Iceland |
Orkney, North and East Highlands |
Iceland, Norway & Eire |
49,015 |
50,098 |
65,693 |
Nov 2021 |
Greenland Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis |
East Greenland |
West coast & islands from Islay to South Walls, Orkney |
Eire |
58,135 |
58,135 |
73,391 |
2020 |
Svalbard Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis |
Svalbard |
Solway Firth |
Budle Bay, Northumberland |
36,185* |
38,585* |
38,585* |
2021 |
East Atlantic Light-bellied Brent Goose Branta bernicla hrota |
Svalbard & North Greenland |
Moray Firth, Eden Estuary, Forth Estuary |
Lindisfarne & Denmark |
c.120 |
4,393 |
7,300 |
10/11 to 14/15 |
Canadian Light-bellied Brent Goose Branta bernicla hrota |
East Canadian high Arctic |
Loch Indaal, Islay Loch Ryan, Stranraer |
Eire, Western England, France & Spain |
c.200 |
18,400$ |
40,500 |
10/11 to 14/15 |
^There are 1,500 individuals (last estimated in 2014) in the Western flyway sub-population of the overall Western Palearctic population of 66,472 geese
*Peak counts immediately after migration and before peak deaths due to HPAI – subsequently an estimated one third of the population was lost in 2021/2022
$80% in Northern Ireland
Contact
Email: Samuel.Turner@gov.scot
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