RSPB Ynyshir satellite tracking of white-fronted geese

Electronic tags fitted to one of Europe's rarest birds have revealed "vital data" that could help safeguard the species, researchers have said.

The RSPB estimates the population of Greenland white-fronted geese at its Ynyshir reserve near Machynlleth, Powys, has declined by 83% since 1990.

Very little is known about the birds.

But a study, funded by the Welsh Government, has provided new insights described as "a glimmer of hope".

The RSPB's Tom Kistruck told BBC Wales' environment correspondent Steffan Messenger what the trackers could tell them.

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White-fronted geese shooting law criticised by RSPB Cymru

19 August 2016 

A decision not to entirely ban the shooting of white-fronted geese across Wales has been described as a "bitter disappointment".

RSPB Cymru had urged the Welsh Government to protect the rare birds.

But the Welsh Government said it would not implement a total ban, stating there was no evidence any are currently being shot in Wales.

The world population of the birds has been declining since 1999, falling from 36,000 to 20,000.

Following a public consultation, the Welsh Government has opted to maintain the current voluntary ban on land where wildfowling clubs have specific rights to shoot.

'Threat of extinction'

The decision has been criticised by RSPB Cymru, who said wintering populations were at "critically low levels".

The charity said more than 160 birds would return to their regular wintering site on the Dyfi estuary in the 1990s, but numbers had dropped to 24 last year.

Director Katie-Jo Luxton said: "When a species is declining so quickly that it is under threat of extinction, you'd think the least that those in power could do is to offer it legal protection to prevent it from being shot."

In response, a Welsh Government spokesman said it was "committed to the conservation of white-fronted geese".

"We recently undertook a full public consultation which did not generate any evidence to indicate white-fronted geese are currently being shot in Wales," the spokesman said.

"The cabinet secretary therefore concluded the existing year-round voluntary moratorium is currently working effectively and is being adhered to by wildfowling clubs in Wales."

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Welsh Government won’t stop shooting of rare geese

Welsh Ornithologists react angrily to Minister's decision

August 2013. The Welsh Ornithological Society (WOS) have expressed concern at the Welsh Government's decision not to ban the hunting of White-fronted Geese. Wales is now the only area in the Goose's regular haunts where the goose is not protected.

In a consultation earlier this year, WOS set out why Greenland White-fronted Geese should be protected. While WOS acknowledges that long running voluntary bans on shooting are in place at some wetlands, such as the Dyfi estuary, it believes that nothing less than a statutory ban on shooting will ensure its protection. The Society is concerned that any voluntary ban could be lifted at any time and that the voluntary approach does not cover all the sites where these declining geese could spend the winter.

Lolo Williams

WOS President, Iolo Williams, said "There is a very strong scientific case to ban hunting of Greenland White-fronted Geese. Studies on their wintering grounds at Wexford Slobs in Ireland clearly showed that the geese are extremely sensitive to hunting mortality."

Continued