On 02-03-2013 we caught first time successfully a flock of 4 Whitefronted geese by using traditional Dutch ganzenflapper method. The geese were measured, ringed and marked with black collars. Main issue of the study in Lower Saxony is to try if threatened Lesser Whitefronted Geese also can be attract and caught by this method. But all other geese with be marked as well.

End of July our expedition 2012 ended in a desaster. During a heavy storm main cabin burned completly down and destroyed lots of things: all food, lots of our data, photo lenses and other private equipment. And the cabin was totally destroyed. The cabin was boroughed from local rendeer breeders. Rendeer company complains our Russian collegue now for the damage privately. Because now insurance was valid for this expedition we ask goose fans for donations. Please read more.

When Whitefronted geese leave their staging sites in early spring, they are constrained by strong energetic stress. On one hand they need lots of fuel for the long distance flight, on the other hand they have to save their fat deposits for incubating and broad rearing. We analysed spring migration of tracked geese now and found out that they optimized to travel on the green wave of spring to arctic breeding grounds Read more here.

Spring migration of winter season 2011/12 had already started around christmas. At Dollard (NW Lower Saxony) the number of staging geese has increased massivly since then. Also from goose staging areas in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Brandenburg ans western Poland geese counters report very high numbers which regulary were found mid of february or in beginning of march.
But then at least winter came with strong cold weather and lots of snow in the east. So geese returned. In southeastern Europe geese departed now while the were staging more north in Kasakstan and Russia before.
Nevertheless, when mild weather returns, geese will come back very soon.

During the next field season we can offer some themes for students bachelor-, master- or Phd-works on Kolguev and in on the staging sites in northern Germany. In cooperation with Institute for Avian Research, Wilhelmshaven, we'll continue our work in the arctic in 2012. Read more hier.

On 28-5-2011 a group of Russian and German scientists started again for a scientific expedition to Kolguev Island in the Barents Sea. During the summer they will study breeding biology of geese and waders and start some new work on migration biology of waders and ducks.
When the scientist arrived snow has started to melt and the delta of Peschanka river was flooded. But the first geese were also arrived. Until the geese will leave the island the goose researchers will stay on Kolguev.
Mid of June a group additional four participants travelled to Kolguev. They enforced the researchers for the time of intensive study work. In June all chicks of birds hatch. It`s the most intensive stime of research: measuring clutch sizes and density, hatching success and colour-marking of incubating adults. Now, mid of July most chicks are hatched and left their nest. During time of broad rearing, scientist have to be very careful not to affect families. So, three researchers returned to Germany. Until end of expedition mid of August broad rearing success will be documented and in the end flocks of moulting geese have to be caught for colour-marking.
Read more here.

In early morning of 21-11-2010 a new satellite-tracked Whitefronted goose was released. This time at Lake Fertö, Hungary. The bird was determinated as an adult male with its mate and two offsprings. While the family got neckbands starting with "1" the male was marked with a lime coloured legring "C". We called him "Gyula".
The bird started spring migration in march and flew eastward to Kalmykia when the international goose meeting was held there. Just three weeks later last signal of this bird was recieved from Kasakstan. Read more here.