Literature review to assess bird species connectivity to Special ...

to about 7 km from the roost (Malcolm Ogilvie pers. comm.). Greenland Barnacle
Geese wintering on the Western Isles show similar foraging distances from their
roost sites, foraging within 15km, and often at around 5km (Andrew Stevenson pers.
comm.).
The Svalbard population all winter along the Solway Firth (Trinder et al., 2005).
Based on data from surveys undertaken in the winter of 2004/05 (DH Ecological
Consultancy, 2005), the majority of foraging locations are within approximately 10km
of the roost sites, with others within approximately 25km.
Foraging habitat
Barnacle geese forage on the leaves and stems of grasses, with their diet
supplemented by stubble and grains (Cramp, 1977). Studies on Islay have shown
that birds have a preference for newly reseeded pastures (Percival, 1993).
45