PHILIPPONA J & MULDER T (1960) On the occurrence of the European Whitefronted Goose Anser a. albifrons , especially in the Netherlands. LIMOSA 33 (3): 90-127.

This paper was brought about in co-operation with the RIVON and several observers in the Netherlands and some other countries. BREEDING QUARTERS. 1. Ringrecoveries (Wildfowl Trust, 1955 and TAAPKEN, 1957 and 1958) and observations (JOHANSEN, 1959) show that the populations of the European White-fronted Goose wintering in Europe, in S.W.-Asia and Egypt, breed in the Northern parts of the U.S.S.R. between 44?E. (Kanin-peninsular) and 80?_85?E. (Jenissei-area) (map 1). 2. The recoveries just mentioned point out that the Whitefronts wintering in Western-Europe, breed in the European parts of the U.S.S.R., but probably in a part of Siberia too (map 1). MIGRATORY ROUTES. 3. Concluding from the recoveries and observations by WESTERNHAGEN (19531955) in North-Germany we could suggest some migratory routes (map 1): a) northern parts of Germany and Poland - Baltic countries - Lake Ladoga - Lake Onega - North Russia (breeding areas): b) after North Poland into eastern direction, later on (partly east of the Utal) bending to N.E. to the breeding areas in North Siberia. This route is partly hypothetic and is based only upon some recoveries. MAIN WINTER QUARTERS. 4. As far as known the most important winter quarters of the vVhite-fronted Goose are (map 1): Southern border of the Caspian Sea Hortobagy and Lake Balaton Neusiedler Lake Plains of the Vardar and the Axios Surroundings of Dubrovnik and Trebinje (Persia) (Hungary) (Austria) (Yugoslavia and Greece) (Yugoslavia) Ost-Friesland and Emsland Friesland, Western Noord-Brabant, Zuid-Beveland and Eastern Zeeuws-Vlaanderen New Grounds at Slimbridge (Western Germany) (The Netherlands) (Great Britain) ARRIVAL IN WESTERN EUROPE. 5. In October thousands of Whitefronts arrive in the German Baltic Sea area (WESTERNHAGEN 1953-1956). Shortly afterwards they arrive in the coastal belt of the North Sea in Western Germany (HARRISON, 1952 and RINGLEBEN 1957) . At the same time small groups arrive in The Netherlands (EYKMAN, C.s., 1941) and England (Wildfowl Trust, 1955, 1957, 1958), though the first arrivals occur sometimes in the last September-decade. OCCURRENCE IN THE NETHERLANDS. ARRIVAL ON LARGE SCALE. 6. The arrivals on a larger scale occur in The Netherlands in Decembel1, but the maximum-numbers stay here in February and March (list 1). This pattern is in accordance with the actual situation in England and Wales (BOYD, 1957). DEPARTURE. 7. Most of the Whitefronts leave The Netherlands about mid March. But cold weather, like in March 1958, can cause a strong delay (list 2). We wonder if the late departure in 1958 may be one of the causes of the apparently bad results of breeding in that year. (In 1958-1959 the number of Whitefronts in first-year plumage was very small in Holland). NUMBERS. 8. It is difficult to compare the actual number of Whitefronts with that of former years. Goose-counting has only a short history in this country. According to the oounting of the last few years we may state the seasonal maxima between 35.000 and 50.000 (list 2). Some years ago, OVER and MORZER BRUYNS (1956) estimated the normal winterpopulation in The Netherlands at 10.000. BOYD (1956) estimated the whole winterpopulation in Western Europe at 15.000-20.000. MORZER BRUYNS (1958) informed us already about the large numbers in The Netherlands in the last few years. We may state therefore, that the number of Whitefronts in The Netherlands has increased considerably. This is the more surprising, as not long ago all kinds of geese were considered to be decreasing in this country (BmsMAN and VAN OORDT, 1939). CAUSES OF INCREASE. 9. P 0 s sib lee a use s 0 f the inc rea sea r e: a) Diversion of migratory routes and winterquarters as described by RINGo LEBEN (1957). Probably this is the most important cause. Unfortunately this cannot be proved, for it is not known that the increase in The Netherlands has caused a decrease somewhere else. b) The more accurate counts and the more intensive watching may cause an apparent increase. c) Rise of birth-rate. There is no reason to believe that birth-rate has much to do with our problem. In the winter 1958-1959 the number of juveniles was very small and still the total number ofWhitefronts was very big. d) Fall of death-rate. Perhaps this factor could be of some importance because killing of moulting geese seems to diminish strongly (RINGLEBEN, 1957). arrivals from the East (Germany), independently of the weather. This supposition could be proved by simultaneous observations in The Netherlands and Western Germany. c) Perhaps the Whitefronts of distinct areas do concentrate in bigger flocks in the period concerned. This could therefore enlarge the change of fuller counts. d) Back-migration from England, Belgium and France. This factory may be of little importance. Large-scale departure from the New Grounds comes mainly after the maximum -in The Netherlands. Moreover these three countries have not got a winterpopulation of some tens of thousand. SHIFTING OF NUMBERS (WHITE-FRONTED GoOSE - BEANGOOSE). 11, R1NGLEBEN (1957) describes the shifting of numbers of the White-fronted Goose and the Beangoose. There are reasons to believe that this occurred in this country too. For at least one area (Moerdijk - Rode Vaart - Mark no. 22) a report of LEBRET seems to prove this interesting shifting (map 2). In 1948 LEBRET stated the Whitefront - Beangoose ratio 1 : 3. Nowadays the situation is quite different. Last season (1958-1959) we stated the ratio about 20 : 1. HABITAT OF THE WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE IN THE NETHERLANDS: 12. Mainly grassland, especially marshy and partly flooded grassland. Because the drainage is improved in many areas the Whitefront is often seen on dry grassland now. Close by or not too far away (10-15 km as a maximum) should be found quiet water with shallow partsl, that serves as roost and refuge. This subject has been described by LEBRET recently (1959). Salt grasslands are only of little importance. The Whitefront does not shun the neighbourhood of farm-houses and quiet roads. Some localities are almost treeless, others have trees along roads and ditches, or like in the case of locality no. 6 even smaIl forests. Map 2 shows that most of the localities are near the coast, estuaries and rivers. Some others occur in the inland in areas with- flooded grassland or shaIlow lakes. DECLINE OF HAUNTS (map 2 and list 3). 13. Some localities have strongly decreased in value during the last decennia. The most important causes so far known were: a) improved drainage - especiaIly injurious for inland localities, like the former ones in N.Drente and Groningen. b) Re - allotment and improved network of roads. These factors could have caused damage in some cases: Kampereiland (no. 13) and Eempolders (no. 20). c) Creation of new polders in the former Zuyder Zee. This causes the loss of shaIlow roost-water; it counts for the locality near the little river Linde (no. 11) and for the Oosterwoldsche polder (no. 14). HAUNTS (map 2 and list 3). H. Map 2 shows the localities visited by Whitefronts. They are classified in three categories. In this country there are at least four main haunts: no. 6. Surroundings of Beetsterzwaag and Gorredijk in the eastern part of Friesland. no. 22. Moerdijk - Rode Vaart - Mark in the Western part of Noord- Brabant. no. 28. The PoeI near Goes on Zuid-Beveland in Zeeland. no. 31-32. Eastern Zeeuws-Vlaanderen in Zeeland. The other localities are less important but there is a great difference in the maximum-numbers and the regularity of visits. Perhaps, some of these places should be considered in connection with the main ones (e.g. no. 5, 23, 29 and 30). Some can hold only small numbers of Whitefronts (e.g. no. 11, 17 and 21) while others are sometimes visited by thousands of geese (e.g. no. 8, 9 and 15). Some places are only of temporary importance, like Flevoland (no. 15) as long as it is not cultivated. RESERVAnONS. 15. The circumstances in the Netherlands are still favourable for the Whitefronted Goose: much grassland, much water, comparatively few hunters, a game-free season after 31 January. The disturbing factors will increase, however. Weare therefore strong supporters of geese-reservations. The existing reservations are, with a single exception, only of secondary 'importance for Whitefronts. We therefore recommend reservations in the most important localities. European Whitefronted Goose Anser a. albifrons European Whitefronted Goose Anser anser albifrons

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