GSG board

Affiliation 

Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Den Burg, The Netherlands

Keywords of my interest 

Animal migration, Arctic ecosystems, global change ecology, phenological mismatch, stopover ecology, avian growth and development

I study the migration and reproduction ecology of geese and shorebirds, with a focus on species migrating between temperate wintering sites and Arctic breeding sites. My interests are broad, and currently encompass the preparation of birds for northward migrations, flexibility in migration strategies, and impacts of a changing (Arctic) environment on reproduction and chick growth. I aim to make my research broader applicable by working together with conservation partners, including the IUCN-GSG and the Arctic Council.

Affiliation

Institute of geography Russian Academy of Sciences Laboratory of biogeography Moscow, Russia

Keywords of my interest 

Goose populations, Arctic ecosystems, population dynamics, structure and dynamics of goose ranges, migration of geese, biogeography of migratory geese

Chair of Goose Specialist Group from 2014 to 2023. I have been working in the Arctic since 2000s. Since 2006, I have been monitoring goose populations on Kolguev Island (nesting density, breeding success, ringing). I study geese at their breeding and wintering grounds and flyways, catch and mark geese at breeding grounds and staging areas using different methods, map the ranges of waterfowl and study their dynamics. I study geese as key species in the Arctic ecosystem, their flyways and stopovers in the European part of Russia.

Affiliation

Norwegian Institute for Nature Research Arctic Ecology Department Tromsø, Norway

Keywords of my interest 

Goose behaviour, migration strategies, goose-agriculture conflicts, adaptive management, population dynamics, stakeholder involvement, transdisciplinary approach

I have working with geese for several decades after completing the doctoral thesis on barnacle geese in NyÅlesund on Svalbard. Thereafter main effort on spring staging sites for both barnacle geese and pink-footed geese on mainland Norway(Trøndelag and Vesterålen). In recent years also more focus in the Oslofjord region and other goose species. Have been project leader for several interdisciplinary projects ranging from goose-agriculture conflicts, optimal harvest strategies and various implementation of management measures. Norway’s national expert in EGMP (https://egmp.aewa.info/) and actively involved in the monitoring programme on Svalbard, COAT (https://www.coat.no/en/).

Affiliation

Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark

Keywords of my interest 

Population dynamics, demographic monitoring, behaviour, foraging ecology, migration behaviour, climate change, agriculture, distribution and abundance 

My interest in geese was stimulated by the rapid declines in abundance of Greenland White-fronted Geese wintering on the Dyfi Estuary in mid Wales, which led to participation in an expedition to their breeding areas in West Greenland in 1979 and a lifelong interest in population dynamics and their drivers. Since then, I have been hugely privileged to work on many different populations throughout Eurasia and North America. I am especially interested in how energy and nutrient balances affect fitness through the annual cycle, but I am a hopeless enthusiast, so all aspects of these wonderful birds fascinate me!

Affiliation

Laboratory of Ornithology Institute of Biological Problems of the North Magadan, Russia

Keywords of my interest 

Breeding ecology, migration strategies, population dynamics, feeding ecology, climate change, distribution and abundance

I have been working with geese since early 1990-ies, starting with study of their breeding ecology and migration connectivity. The major focus was on the populations of Greater White-fronts, Tundra Bean Geese, Emperor Geese and Black Brants nesting in south Chukotka. Since early 2000-s Greater White-fronts, Tundra Bean geese, and Barnacle Geese, breeding on Kolguev island on the Barentz sea became the main focal populations, where breeding phenology, nesting success, habitat distribution, population dynamics and migration connectivity in the light of climate change received the most attention.

Affiliation

Biologist/Ecologist, researcher, retired CEO of a Biological Station

Keywords of my interest 

Animal behaviour and ecology, animal feeding and agriculture, population dynamics and management, wetlands and waterbirds (especially geese).

Grown up in a wetland, I was fascinated by wetlands and birds already as a small child. When I was six years old, I expressed a strong desire to become a professional biologist. A desire that grew stronger throughout my adolescence due to the shocking destruction of the wetlands of my youth. As a professional biologist I was extremely happy to have the opportunity to do research in the field for more than 45 years on tawny owls, waders, geese as well as the ecology and restauration of wetlands. Furthermore, at the end of the 1980s I had the privilege of being one of the first western researchers to study the ecology of the waterfowl and wading birds, especially geese, in the Russian Arctic and to fix neck-collars and transmitters on geese to track their migratory routes and stopoversites.

Affiliation

Animal Ecology group, Wageningen Environmental Research (WEnR), Wageningen, The Netherlands

Keywords of my interest 

Population dynamics, demographic monitoring, behaviour, foraging ecology, local movement patterns, agriculture, goose management, adaptation to changing

environment.

Since 2015, I have had the privilege of working on a variety of goose related projects. My journey began in Germany, where I investigated the local movements of both migratory geese such as greater white-fronted geese and barnacle geese, and local breeding greylag geese. Since 2019, I have been part of the Animal Ecology Group at Wageningen Environmental Research, where much of my work focuses on geese projects. During the winter months, I catch geese using cannon nets and collaborate closely with volunteers employing traditional methods. Through this work, I have developed a strong interest in understanding their local movements, behaviors, and responses to human management practices and changing environments.