Incidents of neckband icing and consequences for body condition and survival of pink‐footed geese Anser brachyrhynchus

• DOI: 10.2981/wlb.2001.008
• Publication Date: 2018-05-11T12:15:19Z
• Authors: Jesper Madsen; Eckhart Kuijken; Christine Kuijken...; Flemming Hansen; Fred Cottaar
• Keywords: 0106 biological sciences; motality; neck collar; body condition; waterfowl; goose; 01 natural sciences

During cold spells in Denmark and The Netherlands January–February 1996, Belgium January 1997, ice buildup on plastic neckbands pinkfooted geese Anser brachyrhynchus was observed, affecting 15–31% of the marked areas. Ice started to form at effective temperatures approximately ‐5°C, but broke off after 1–6 days, despite remaining below freezing point. subsequent months, there no detectable difference body condition, assessed by an abdominal profile index, which had experienced no, light or heavy icing neckbands, respectively. Furthermore, during spring autumn significant resighting rates with without neckband icing.