Feeding ecology of barnacle geese on their spring staging grounds in northern Iceland

Abstract

The distribution and abundance of barnacle geese, Branta leucopsis, staging in northern Iceland was determined in May 1987 and 1994. A similar proportion of the total population (70%) was located in the two years. The distribution differed between the two years, with a higher proportion of the geese found in more westerly sites in 1994. Over 80% of records of birds feeding were on improved agricultural pasture though this made up only 47% of the available feeding habitat. Some geese fed on riverine and coastal grasslands but this was in a much smaller proportion than the availability of these habitats. The number of geese using a site was positively correlated with the area of improved pasture. Birds fed intensively through the day, suggesting that the area is important for the accumulation of nutrient stores. No differences in habitat use or feeding behaviour were found between 1987 and 1994.