Variation in survival in an increasing population of the greylag goose Anser anser in Scania, southern Sweden

Abstract

The authors calculated mean annual survival rates of 76% for juveniles, 74% for subadults and 83% for adults. The survival rate was significantly lower over the winters 1989/90 and 1990/91 than over the winters 1985/86-1988/89 and 1991/92 for adults (80 vs. 87%). In the winters 1989/90 and 1990/91, hunting on greylag geese was intensive in SW Spain. Greylags wintering in the Netherlands had significantly higher survival rates than birds wintering in Spain in both juveniles (90 vs 72%) and adults (94 vs 85%). Most losses occurred during autumn migration and just after arrival into winter quarters. -from Authors