The brent goose is a small, dark goose that winters on UK estuaries in large numbers, feeding on eel grass and saltmarsh plants, with two distinct populations from different breeding areas.
Brent goose welfare depends on eel grass bed health in estuaries and undisturbed roosting areas. Eel grass wasting disease historically devastated populations. Estuary development, disturbance, and sea level rise threaten key wintering sites.