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