Reasons for the Reduction in the Population of the Western Subspecies of the Bean Goose (Anser fabalis fabalis and Anser fabalis rossicus): What Do the Ringing Data Say?

An analysis of the data of the ring recoveries from bean geese (Anser fabalis), ringed from 1960 to 2013 on wintering grounds in the Netherlands, where a subspecies was indicated for a significant part of the birds (A. f. fabalis or A. f. rossicus), is given. Most of the finds were registered on the territory of the former Soviet Union, mainly in the Russian Federation. The hypothesis is tested that the subspecies A. f. fabalis is exposed to more hunting pressure than A. f. rossicus. To test this, a comparison is made of the survival periods of birds of the two subspecies and an analysis of the seasonal distribution of finds of ringed birds. The average life expectancy of A. f. fabalis (compared to A. f. rossicus), a long-term shift in the timing of production in the direction of spring hunting, and the possible change in wintering regions of the bean goose (increase in the importance of Eastern European wintering) as another reason for the sharp decrease in the number of wintering A. f. fabalis in the Netherlands are discussed.

Automated summary

This study analyzed the ring recovery data of bean geese in the Netherlands and investigated the survival periods and seasonal distribution of the A. f. fabalis and A. f. rossicus subspecies. The findings suggest that A. f. fabalis subspecies is subjected to higher hunting pressure and this could be one of the reasons for the sharp decline in their population.