Anser albifrons flavirostris – Greenland white-fronted goose - GWFG ...

<strong>Greenland</strong> White-<strong>fronted</strong> Geese in<br />

Northern Ireland<br />

Ian Enlander<br />

Northern<br />

Ireland<br />

Environment<br />

Agency

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No SPAs selected<br />

Status in Northern Ireland<br />

• no site achieves all-Ireland threshold (110 birds)<br />

• no site as yet selected for range or other stage 1.4<br />

considerations<br />

(www.jncc.gov.uk/page-1406)<br />

Small populations regularly occur at 2 SPAs<br />

SITE SPA FEATURE<br />

Lough Foyle wintering waterbird assemblage<br />

Pettigoe Plateau breeding Golden Plover

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Lough Foyle<br />

SPA<br />

Pettigoe<br />

Plateau SPA<br />

Lower Lough<br />

MacNean<br />

Distribution<br />

Strangford<br />

Lough and<br />

Downpatrick<br />

Marshes<br />

(both<br />

historical)<br />

Annaghroe

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Typical populations in Northern Ireland<br />

Strangford Lough and Downpatrick Marshes, Co. Down (both extinct sites)<br />

Former up to 390, latter up to 250, both largely abandoned by the 1970s<br />

Lower Lough MacNean Co. Fermanagh<br />

Historically up to 200 birds<br />

Currently 50 <strong>–</strong> 100 on improved or semi-improved agricultural grassland<br />

Lough Foyle, Co. Londonderry<br />

1980s <strong>–</strong> variable but could be > 500<br />

1990s <strong>–</strong> typically < 50 but a number of larger flocks<br />

Currently <strong>–</strong> 30 - 40<br />

On winter stubble or reseeded grass pasture<br />

Pettigoe Plateau, Co. Fermanagh<br />

50 <strong>–</strong> 60 on blanket bog mainly using sedge rich sward around oligotrophic loughs.<br />

Cross <strong>–</strong> border dimension with another flock (20 <strong>–</strong> 70) near Donegal 12 km away<br />

(Lough Durnesh)<br />

Annaghroe, Co. Armagh<br />

60 <strong>–</strong> 80 but notable decline in recent years. Now < 30 with < 10 in past 2 winters.<br />

Proven movement between here and roost area at Slieve Beagh.<br />

Feeding on flooded reseeded grass pasture. Roosting on upland oligotrophic lakes.

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Pettigoe Plateau Co. Fermanagh

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Lough Durnesh<br />

12km<br />

SPA - SAC<br />

SPA - SAC<br />

SPA - SAC<br />

Lough Mallybreen<br />

(main GWG site)

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Main management issues <strong>–</strong><br />

Historical afforestation<br />

Peat cutting (hand and machine)

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SPA<br />

SPA<br />

Lough Foyle Co.<br />

Londonderry

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Main management issues <strong>–</strong><br />

Disturbance from wildfowling<br />

Disturbance from hovercraft racing<br />

(recent)<br />

Biofuel production <strong>–</strong> willow coppice<br />

(recent)

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Lower Lough MacNean Co. Fermanagh<br />

(No conservation site designation)

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Main management issues <strong>–</strong><br />

Disturbance from wildfowling (ongoing)<br />

Disturbance from quarry blasting (ongoing)<br />

Disturbance from helicopters (ongoing)

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Annaghroe, Co. Armagh<br />

(No conservation site designation)<br />

Formerly a very significant site<br />

Disturbance minimised<br />

historically with closure of<br />

cross-border road

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Main management issues <strong>–</strong><br />

Site hydrology not maintained <strong>–</strong><br />

thought to be the main cause of decline<br />

in recent years <strong>–</strong> new management<br />

agreement in place<br />

Proposed reopening of road<br />

Proposed windfarm in uplands used as<br />

roosting site

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Current status in Northern Ireland<br />

• Birds Directive Annex I species <strong>–</strong> wider<br />

countryside measures<br />

• Fully protected by the Wildlife (Northern<br />

Ireland) Order 1985<br />

• Bird of Conservation Concern in Ireland<br />

(www.habitas.org.uk/priority/species.asp?item=40801)

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Current actions in Northern Ireland<br />

• Northern Ireland agri-environment scheme<br />

- wintering feeding sites for swans and<br />

geese<br />

• Monitoring<br />

www.ruralni.gov.uk/nicms_cmb.pdf<br />

- WEBS, volunteer and development related<br />

survey typically achieves 100% coverage<br />

of main sites

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Acknowledgements <strong>–</strong><br />

RSPB (Northern Ireland) for Annaghroe and Pettigoe Plateau data.<br />

British Trust for Ornithology for provision of WeBS data