Big freeze brings influx of Arctic geese to Lindisfarne
10 February 2010
This winter's big freeze unusually large numbers of one of the world's rarest birds to Lindisfarne.
This winter’s big freeze has brought unusually large numbers of one of the world’s rarest birds to the Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve in Northumberland, Natural England said today (10 February 2010). Around 4,000 light-bellied brent geese have arrived at Lindisfarne this year, the largest number recorded in the area for many years. The world population of these small geese is estimated at only around 6,000 individuals.
In the summer the birds breed in the Arctic on Svalbard and Franz Josef Islands with a few in north east Greenland, but all the birds leave their breeding grounds after they have nested to avoid the worst of the Arctic winter. In most years, around half of the birds head to the UK and spend the winter at Lindisfarne, with the rest wintering in Denmark and together the two sites hold over 99% of the world population of the geese. This winter the severe conditions across Europe have seen more of the birds than normal fly to Natural England’s Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve.
Andrew Craggs Natural England’s Lindisfarne NNR reserve manager said: “It is a sign of just how widespread the big freeze has been that these geese are present at Lindisfarne in such large numbers. The arrival of the geese is a treat for wildlife watchers, but it is a sobering thought that virtually the entire world population of these birds rely on only a couple of locations in Europe for their survival in winter. “The Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve is part of an international network of special sites that have a vital role in the conservation of wildlife. These geese remind us just how important the North East on England is for wildlife that comes here from all points of the compass.”
The whereabouts of several thousand of the light-bellied brent geese still remains a mystery, however. During the ‘big freeze’ the Danish wetlands froze over and the geese that had arrived there were forced to abandon Denmark to find new feeding grounds. The birds were expected to arrive at Lindisfarne but never touched down in Northumberland. Although their fate is still unknown it is hoped that have found a safe haven elsewhere in Europe.
The Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve is managed by Natural England and covers more than 3,500 ha (36 km2) of sand dunes, dune slacks, coastal grassland, saltmarsh and tidal mudflats along the Northumberland coast from Cheswick Black Rocks to Budle Point. It is one of 222 National Nature Reserves in England, covering more than 92,000 hectares. They represent some of the very finest places in England for wildlife and geology, and provide great opportunities for people to experience nature.
Three types of brent geese occur in Britain – the majority are the dark-bellied race (Branta bernicla), which breeds along the Arctic coasts of northern Siberia; the Svalbard population occurs in England regularly only at Lindisfarne; while small numbers of Canadian pale-bellied brent geese occur occasionally in the south west with the main population wintering in Ireland. Visitors to the Lindisfarne NNR are asked to avoid any disturbance to the thousands of ducks, geese and wading birds that have arrived in the area this winter. If they are disturbed then the birds will take flight, using up precious energy. ends
