The barnacle goose is a strikingly patterned winter visitor from the High Arctic whose welfare across its flyway illustrates both conservation success and the emerging challenges of climate-driven behavioural change.
Barnacle goose welfare on UK wintering grounds depends on access to traditional feeding areas of improved grassland on islands and coastal farms. Conflict with farmers over grazing and crop damage is managed through licensing payments in Scotland and Ireland. Climate-driven changes in timing of migration and breeding site selection create new welfare risks as birds breeding further south face earlier springs with different food phenology. Legal protection is critical to prevent return of historic hunting pressure.