Scotland and Iceland tag greylags to study patterns

NatureScot and the Icelandic Institute of Natural History are collaborating on a project to more accurately map greylag populations and migration locations. 

People in Orkney and north-east Scotland are being asked to look out for the 80 geese that have been fitted with special GPS collars to aid this research. 

Icelandic greylags are shot to limit damage to agriculture and for sport in Iceland and Scotland. The resident British population is controlled at several sites, including on Orkney, to reduce damage to crops. 

Steve Rogers, director of Orkney Shooting Holidays, told ST: ”As a professional goose guide in Orkney, I fully support and am extremely interested in this study. However, I find it difficult to believe numbers [of the geese] are decreasing. 

“From my own studies of the resident populations in Orkney, it is apparent that their behaviour changes year on year. Weather and prevailing seasonal conditions could both mean variations in hatching or migration,” he pointed out. 

“Even slight deviations in wind direction will alter the migration flyway. The movements do happen within a short window of approximately 14 days but not to the day. With this in mind, any count carried out, no matter how involved, can only give a rough figure.”