The Greenland White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons flavirostris is one of four subspecies of the Greater White-fronted Goose. The species is fully migratory and is a winter visitor to Ireland from Arctic breeding grounds in Greenland.
The Irish wintering population has very limited geographic range and no overlap with other races, breeding solely in west Greenland, migrating in spring and autumn through south and west Iceland to wintering grounds in Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. The population of Greenland White-front Geese is small and their world range limited.
Greenland White-fronted Geese are categorised as ’Endangered’ using the IUCN‘s global Red List criteria; are listed on Annex I of the EU Directive on the conservation of wild birds. Greenland White-fronted Geese are selected as a conservation interest for a number of Special Protection Area’s in Ireland.
The Greenland White-fronted Goose is confined to roughly 80 regular sites in Ireland and Britain. Because of their high levels of site fidelity, there is limited potential for colonising new areas, re-colonising of deserted sites, or large-scale immigration from other areas to supplement declining flocks although exchange of individuals does occur regularly. The species is highly gregarious outside of the breeding season, with flocks of up to 9,000 individuals known to occur at Wexford Slobs. However, the geese are more commonly observed in small loose groups due to the patchiness of the preferred habitat.
Habitat loss and degradation is a major global threat to Greenland White-fronted Geese. In particular, disturbance by humans, wetland habitat degradation due to drainage, peat-extraction and changing management practices are threats to the feeding and roosting habitats used by this species across its range. Collision impacts with inappropriately located wind energy developments are identified as a potential threat, with a prerogative on appropriate survey and impact assessment .
Read more on this review here.
Also see this recent news item which is related to this page.
ECOFACT ornithologists are experts in providing both surveys and impact assessments in relation to Greenland white-fronted geese. To discuss your wind farm bird survey requirements please contact us.
Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) published new guidance in January 2019 for bats surveys at wind farm sites. These new guidelines are entitled “Bats and onshore wind turbines – survey, assessment and mitigation”. The document incorporates findings from the latest research on the impact of wind farms on bats. It is endorsed by all the statutory […]
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We are one of the leading companies in Ireland providing mammal surveys and assessments. We provide expert advise on both bats and terrestrial non-volant (i.e. non-flying) mammals. We undertake surveys for all terrestrial non-volant mammal species in Ireland, including Badger, Otter, Red Squirrel, Pine Marten, and non-native American Mink, among others. Our staff are fully […]
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We were delighted to work recently with BBC Earth on a documentary on Sea Lampreys Petromyzon marinus. The filming took place during early-June 2017 on the old River Shannon at Castleconnell, Co Limerick. This is part of the Lower River Shannon Special Area of Conservation, and Sea Lampreys are a key conservation interest of this […]
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A major new book will be published in May 2017 entitled ‘Wildlife and Wind Farms: Conflicts and Solutions’. Volume 1 of this book includes a chapter prepared by Ecofact Principal Ecologist Dr. William O’Connor. The two-volume set provides a comprehensive overview of the interactions between wind farms and wildlife, each volume dedicated to one of the two […]
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Our staff are currently undertaking a number of wintering bird surveys in the Irish Midlands. Here we have provided some photos and videos from bird surveys we undertook during December 2015. Our bird surveys are undertaken to inform both the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Natura Impact Statement (NIS) reports being prepared for proposed wind energy […]
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