On the spatial-distribution and social-organization of neck-banded Greylag Geese Anser anser in their breeding area of Lake Neusiedl, Austria

Although goslings are known to move up to 10 km in their first days of life, juvenile geese only moved short distances (up to 1 km) from their ringing sites after ringing. In July the geese gathered in the central Seewinkel area (main gathering place Lange Lacke). After summer migration resightings of ringed geese dated from September onwards. The large flocks of non-breeders preferred the Lange Lacke area. Observations of non-breeders indicated that they left the area almost completely during moult and they were then resighted in July. Before the moult, non-breeding geese showed small-scale movements indicating fidelity to favoured localities. Some of them were the former rearing sites. The association of birds ringed on the same site and in the same year in the first and even the second year after ringing was shown.

Dick G., ARDEA 79 (2): 265-268