The significance of the Lake Neusiedl area of Austria for migrating geese

Abstract

Three migrating goose species Anser fabalis, Anser anser, and Anser albifrons use the Seewinkel area near Lake Neusiedl in Austria. Counts from 1980-81 to 1982-83 by various authors are analysed and compared with organised monthly counts since 1983-84 in Seewinkel and on the Hungarian part of Lake Neusiedl. The most numerous species is A. fabalis, with up to 40,000 birds, A. anser reach a maximum of 9,000, and A. albifrons 6,400. The first two species have changed little in numbers since the 1950s and 1960s, but A. albifrons has decreased dramatically. In general, mild weather leads to the presence of a large number of geese in winter. Air temperature and snow cover are the most important factors determining whether the geese remain. A. albifrons and A. fabalis were less sensitive to short periods of bad weather. Spring migration is much faster than autumn migration.