Brent Geese in western Europe during the winters of 1962-63 and 1963-64

Abstract

Hard weather during January and February 1963 concentrated most of the population of Dark-bellied Brent Geese into England and France, making a good estimate of numbers possible. The population in mid-January 1963 was between 23,000 and 25,000. Less comprehensive counts during the winter of 1963-64 suggest that the numbers were then much the same. Very few young were recorded from any areas during 1962-63, but during 1963-64 counts from all areas lay within the range 30-40% first-winter. The Pale-Bellied Brent wintering in Ireland have had two successful breeding seasons in succession, with about 39% young in sample counts in 1962-63, and about 33% in 1963-64.