A STUDY ON THE IMPACT OF GRAZING REDBREASTS AND OTHER WINTERING GEESE IN BULGARIAN DOBRUDZHA WAS LAUNCHED
20.11.2011
In mid-November a two-year field study on the impact of grazing geese on wheat yields in the region of Durankulak and Shabla Lakes in Bulgaria started. The study is a part of the project "Safe Grounds for the Redbreasts” (LIFE/NATURA/BG/000230) and seeks to resolve and clarify the issue about geese damages claimed by local farmers in the area. The survey is implemented following a pre-established methodology that reflects international experience and regional specifics. Experimental studies will be conducted with the assistance of local farmers and partners of the project.
The study on the impact of grazing wintering geese on the yield of wheat in the region of Shabla and Durankulak will be conducted in two consecutive winter seasons - 2011/2012 and 2012/2013. The question of the damage inflicted by geese has been repeatedly raised in the Bulgarian part of the Dobrudzha since the late 80's, when the number of geese wintering in the area increased. By the mid and late 90’s over 250 000 White-fronted geese (
Anser albifrons) and up to 80,000 Red-breasted geese (
Branta ruficollis) were regularly recorded in the region of Shabla and Durankulak, which are the main wintering grounds for these species in Bulgaria. In winter the Red-breasted geese and the White-fronted geese feed mainly on winter wheat (
Triticum aestivum) and sometimes on barley (
Hordeum vulgare). In recent years oilseed rape (
Brassica sp.) was introduced as an industrial crop in the region, but its importance for wintering geese is still unclear. The goal of the present study is to evaluate the impact of grazing geese on the wheat yields in the region of Durankulak Lake by using experimental exclosures and data of the dynamics of wintering geese numbers in the study area.
An important result from processing the survey data will be further specification of the measure of the national agro-environmental program concerning payments to farmers for winter wheat growing in the Red-breasted Goose wintering areas. This measure was proposed and justified by the BSPB agri-environmental team and other BSPB experts. The measure is expected to be launched by the Bulgarian government next year. This is one of the essential contributions of BSPB for the farmers in the area and as such it is expected to have a significant impact on both the protection of the Red-breasted Goose by ensuring adequate food habitats, and the support for local farmers in terms of reducing losses resulting from various factors.
Currently, the project field experts are installing the exclosures in the control sites in the fields near Durankulak Lake. This activity is expected to finish by the end of the week. Simultaneously, the first wintering geese have already arrived in the area and visit the fields included in the study plots.
In mid-November a two-year field study on the impact of grazing geese on wheat yields in the region of Durankulak and Shabla Lakes in Bulgaria started. The study is a part of the project "Safe Grounds for the Redbreasts” (LIFE/NATURA/BG/000230) and seeks to resolve and clarify the issue about geese damages claimed by local farmers in the area. The survey is implemented following a pre-established methodology that reflects international experience and regional specifics. Experimental studies will be conducted with the assistance of local farmers and partners of the project.
The study on the impact of grazing wintering geese on the yield of wheat in the region of Shabla and Durankulak will be conducted in two consecutive winter seasons - 2011/2012 and 2012/2013. The question of the damage inflicted by geese has been repeatedly raised in the Bulgarian part of the Dobrudzha since the late 80's, when the number of geese wintering in the area increased. By the mid and late 90’s over 250 000 White-fronted geese (Anser albifrons) and up to 80,000 Red-breasted geese (Branta ruficollis) were regularly recorded in the region of Shabla and Durankulak, which are the main wintering grounds for these species in Bulgaria. In winter the Red-breasted geese and the White-fronted geese feed mainly on winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) and sometimes on barley (Hordeum vulgare). In recent years oilseed rape (Brassica sp.) was introduced as an industrial crop in the region, but its importance for wintering geese is still unclear. The goal of the present study is to evaluate the impact of grazing geese on the wheat yields in the region of Durankulak Lake by using experimental exclosures and data of the dynamics of wintering geese numbers in the study area.
An important result from processing the survey data will be further specification of the measure of the national agro-environmental program concerning payments to farmers for winter wheat growing in the Red-breasted Goose wintering areas. This measure was proposed and justified by the BSPB agri-environmental team and other BSPB experts. The measure is expected to be launched by the Bulgarian government next year. This is one of the essential contributions of BSPB for the farmers in the area and as such it is expected to have a significant impact on both the protection of the Red-breasted Goose by ensuring adequate food habitats, and the support for local farmers in terms of reducing losses resulting from various factors.
Currently, the project field experts are installing the exclosures in the control sites in the fields near Durankulak Lake. This activity is expected to finish by the end of the week. Simultaneously, the first wintering geese have already arrived in the area and visit the fields included in the study plots.
