Łukasz Ławicki, Przemysław Wylegała, Andrzej Wuczyński, Bartosz Smyk, Wiesław Lenkiewicz, Michał Polakowski, Robert Kruszyk, Sławomir Rubacha, Tomasz Janiszewski
Ornis Polonica 2012, 53: 23–38
https://doi.org/10.12657/ornis.2012.1.1
Abstract: In total, 106 roosts of geese were recorded in Poland in 2000–2011. Each place gathered minimum 1,000 birds, mainly the Bean Goose Anser fabalis and Greater White-fronted Goose A. albifrons. The majority (83%) of roosts was placed in the western part of the country, mainly in the Wielkopolska (35), Silesia (24) and Pomerania (22). Most of them gathered up to 10,000 geese (56%). These gathering 10,000–30,000 inds were less numerous (37%). There were only eight roosts where the number of the geese regularly exceeded 30,000 birds. The two largest were the Kiszkowo ponds near Poznań (up to 85,000 inds) and Warta Mouth National Park (up to 120,000 inds). The roosts were situated on backwaters and pools in the river valleys (31%), on lakes (26%) and fishponds (22%). Most of the roosts functioned in spring. Those used during autumn migration and in winter were less numerous. The roosts were usually located close to the appropriate resting places and feeding grounds in areas with milder climate conditions. 65% of roosts is protected as a Special Bird Protection Areas Natura 2000. Occurrence of geese qualifies 29 bird areas of international importance in Poland (IBA). The available evidence indicates that new IBAs could be established at nine more reservoirs as qualified by the number of geese roosting. The major threats to geese roosting areas in Poland involve hunting and raising high objects, such as power lines and wind farms in the areas adjacent to roosts. Minimization of such threats should be included into the conservation plans for Natura 2000 areas that are crucial to geese.
