As a result of new studies based on modern GPS technology interesting news have been announced about the migratory routes of some of the world’s most vulnerable birds species. One of them is Lesser White-Fronted Goose, which contrarily to most other goose species has shown population decline and breeding site fragmentation during the last decades. Hunting is regarded to be one of the factors causing the decline. The new studies, sponsored by the Russian company "Norilsk Nikel", co-financed by the CIC and directed by the Vice-President of CIC Migratory Birds Commission Dr. Evgeny Syroechkovski Jr., have confirmed existing knowledge about the migratory pattern of Lesser White-Fronted Goose, including staging areas in Iraq. Furthermore, the studies have shown the first record ever in Syria, which underlines the immense need of international research and cooperation.

 

MBC President Niels Kanstrup emphasized: “With this new technique we get so much interesting information about the behaviour and needs of migratory birds. By giving very precise information on the stopover sites, we can provide very accurate tool for the management on national and regional level.”

 

- We can only appeal to hunters and authorities to take the necessary steps to reduce the hunting mortality of Lesser White-Fronted Goose. We must secure sustainability, and apart from the loss of biodiversity, we cannot effort examples of hunting being a threat to populations.

 

Internet mapping for presenting satellite telemetry data from Lesser White-fronted Goose: gis-lab.info/projects/piskulka-eng.html