Tracking pink footed geese

This blog was started to keep you informed about movement of 11 tagged Svalbard breeding pink-footed geese. The project was launched in Denmark in March 2011. The aim of the tracking is to get detailed knowledge about migration, diurnal rhythm, behaviour and habitat choice of pink footed geese. The project is part of a larger international program with the overall aim to develop the scientific basis for an adaptive flyway management for the Svalbard population of pink-footed geese

26.09 Danuta moving south

Danuta moved south to Trøndelag. He is very close to the place which he 'used' on the his way to the breeding ground. Now is roosting after long flight ....

25.09 Welcome back!

After having no connection with our tags, we received first positions from the autumn migration. Lukasz and Christiane are on their way to wintering ground(s). Unfortunately we don't know too many details about their way 'home', whether they stopped in any 'typical geese' stopovers sites. Lukasz is flying towards Oslo.Christiane is also around Oslo and this is the first news after almost a month break. So welcome back and stay in touch! Fingers crossed for more news from other folks.

18.09.2011 Lukasz on his way home

Still no signals from 5 birds but yesterday we received ARGOS locations from Lukasz. He is on its way south. When geese are flying, batteries are more probably to charge so hopefully we can get more information soon.

16.09.2011 Hard times for the tags...

We haven't received any signals from our birds since many days. The solar radiation, cloud cover and shrinking day time in the Arctic do not let the batteries to charge. So finger crossed that on the way south, we get more uplinks. Trøndelag is full of greylags but no pinkies yet, so I assume that our birds are still freezing in Svalbard. Below the last position of Danuta from last week

28.08.2011 Nihil novi up North

The other four geese only send us ARGOS positions but we can see that they stay around the same areas.

28.08.2011 Lukasz is digesting bigos

Lukasz is the only goose giving us GPS signals at the moment. He finished moulting but stays around Kaffiøyra. He is moving back and forth, maybe having 'reisefieber' before heading South soon.

22.08.2011 Danuta is getting ready to head South

After moulting, Danuta moved a little bit north in Edgeøya where:
"...the grass is greener,
the light is brighter,
the taste is sweeter,
the nights of wonder
with friends surrounded...."

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6i8264L8-N4)

22.08.2011 Christiane is back 'home'

After moulting in Barentsøya, Christiane came back to Sassendalen where was breeding (or tried to). Note that this is exactly the same spot as his breeding location. Visiting a secret lover?

19.08.2011 Down to earth

The tags do not work as I wanted them to work. We received from 17 to 53% of expected number of uplinks :(

15.08.2011 Danuta follows Caroline

Danuta attempted to breed in Kapp Napier and now can be located on Edgeøya on his moulting migration.

15.08.2011 Christiane

Christiane chose Sassendalen to breed. Now is on Barentsøya on his moulting migration. Barentøya is well known moulting ground for pink-footed geese.

15.08.2011 Lukasz likes bigos:)

Lukasz arrived to Kaffiøyra 18th May where attempted to breed, started and finished moulting and stays until now. He spent most of the time close to Summer Polish Research Station which is famous for delicious bigos and gulasz:) So here we have the secret of being a successful father:)

15.08.2011 Goodbye Gitte

Due to Gulf Stream, western Svalbard is warmer than east coast. Gitte seems not to take care about that and stayed on Edgøya. Unfortunately he lost the tag 18.05 so maybe is with his family now in some 'warmer' place. Finger crossed for Sysselmanen and his tag rescue team!!!!

15.08.2011 Caroline- the Arctic explorer

Caroline visited Edgøye first. Probably realised that was too cold up there and moved to Isfjord Radio to take care of his female and to moult. He finished moulting around 05.08 but still stays around Isfjord Radio. Maybe is frequent visitor in the near by hotel. Caroline's tag stays in touch with us most of the time

15.08.2011 Site fidelity of Ingunn

During stay in Svalbard, tags do not work very well. Geese while seated cover solar battery by feathers and battery drains quite quickly. Ingunn 'jumped' to Ekmanfjorden 18th of May where stays until today. We received the last GPS uplink in the beginning of July but based on ARGOS positions, we know that Ingunn is still there. More detailed map of Svalbard and place names can be found here: http://toposvalbard.npolar.no/

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