Wildlife

Wild Brent Goose Wintering Welfare

Brent geese winter in UK estuaries after Arctic breeding and their welfare depends on intertidal saltmarsh and seagrass habitat quality.

Key Facts

Dark-bellied brent geese winter in UK estuaries after breeding in Siberia
Seagrass and green algae on intertidal flats are their primary winter food
Coastal development and erosion have reduced feeding habitat quality
Brent geese increasingly feed on arable crops and grass inland as coastal habitat declines
Disturbance from coastal recreation reduces feeding time on limited habitats

Welfare Considerations

Brent geese displaced from primary coastal feeding habitats expend more energy flying to alternative inland sites and may have lower body condition at spring departure. Protecting and restoring estuarine seagrass and saltmarsh benefits brent goose welfare and their capacity to fuel the return migration to Arctic breeding grounds.

What You Can Do

Support estuarine habitat protection and seagrass restoration
Maintain distances from roosting and feeding brent goose flocks
Donate to wildfowl and wetlands conservation organisations