International Single Species Action Plan for the ... - AEWA

AEWA Technical Series No. 36 - Annexes
2004a). This has also been confirmed by satellite telemetry (Lorentsen et al 1998; Øien et al
1999; Karvonen & Markkola 1997). There is also a staging area further east in Kazakhstan:
the lake areas surrounding the huge lake Tengiz, as indicated by the movements of a Lesser
White-front satellite tagged in the Taymyr peninsula in 1998 (Øien et. al. 1999).
Three individuals were recorded in south-east Kazakhstan (about 100km west of Almaty) in
March 2003, indicating possible spring staging in this region of birds arriving from wintering
areas further south (Yerokhov 2004), though it appears unclear which breeding population
was involved.
The species is included in the national Red Data Book and legally protected.
Lithuania (EU)
Vernacular name: Mažoji žąsis
There is a lack of information on the species’ status, but it can be assumed that birds of the
Fennoscandian population pass through Lithuania regularly during both spring and autumn
migration. Flocks of up to 800 birds were recorded from the Nemunas Delta and Kurshiu
Lagoon prior to the 1960s. Subsequently, only very small numbers were recorded, until 1995,
when up to 230 staging birds were observed in the Nemunas Delta and small flocks were also
recorded at coastal sites in the autumns of 1996 and 1997 (Stoncius and Markkola 2000).
In July 2000, Lesser White-fronted Goose was included in category 4 of the Lithuanian Red
Data Book. Lack of information concerning the species’ occurrence in Lithuania precluded its
inclusion in a higher category. In July 2005 the species was deleted from the list of the Red
Data Book.
Netherlands (EU)
Vernacular name: Dwerggans
Lesser White-fronted Geese were always rare in the Netherlands. In 1981 a
supplementation/reintroduction project was set up in Swedish Lapland to guide the geese via
a comparatively safer route to the North Sea countries (to The Netherlands). Nowadays every
winter some 80-100 birds are seen in the Netherlands.
Birds have been recorded regularly from sites in Friesland, Noord-Holland, Zuid-Holland and
Zeeland (e.g. van Roomen et al 2003).
The SOVON report 2005/06 (Koffijberg et al. 2005) describes an increase from ca 20
individuals around 1990 to ca 120 from 2003/04 onwards. Average peak numbers vary from
50 individuals near Anjum to 5 elsewhere. 87% of all observations of Lesser White-fronts
took place at 6 core sites. The majority of birds sighted are of Swedish origin. Koffijberg et
al. (2005) estimated that 96% of the supplemented/reintroduced Swedish birds winter in the
Netherlands. Two breeding attempts are recorded, possibly of birds with feral origin.
Norway
Vernacular name: Dverggås (Norwegian); Gilljobás (Lappish/Sami)
The current estimate for the Fennoscandian population (excluding the Kola Peninsula) is 20-
30 pairs (Tolvanen et al. 2004b). The breeding areas of these birds are not known at present,
and some these birds may breed in Finnish and/or Swedish Lapland. Northern Norway also
has a key spring and autumn staging area for Lesser White-fronted Goose, namely the Valdak
Marshes (e.g. Aarvak & Øien 2004). Other important Norwegian sites include the
Varangarfjord area, the Tana River valley and Høyholmen. Statistical analysis of data from
International Single Species Action Plan Lesser White-fronted Goose –Annexes
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