Wildfowl, Issue 71

About this book

Wildfowl is an international scientific journal, published annually by Wildfowl Press, and previously published by the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (from 1948–2020). It disseminates original material on the ecology, biology and conservation of wildfowl (Anseriformes) and ecologically associated birds (such as waders, rails and flamingos), and on their wetland habitats.

Issue 71 includes three papers now appearing on scoter species (on Black Scoters Melanitta americana and Surf Scoters Melanita perspicillata in North America and on the small Velvet Scoter Melanitta fusca population breeding in European Georgia), two comparing the behaviour of Egyptian Geese Alopochen aegyptiaca and Greylag Geese Anser anser in an urban setting, and two on Whooper Swans Cygnus cygnus, the first giving results of the January 2020 international census of the Icelandic population, and the second an insight into the swans’ use of lakes on the Isle of Tiree. Given the major issues resulting from the proliferation of human debris in the environment, it is somewhat sobering to learn in another paper about the ingestion of synthetic micro-fibres by swan species in the UK. The decline in the number of Common Pochard Aythya ferina breeding in Armenia is also cause
for concern.

More encouraging, however, is Helmut Kruckenberg’s study of waterbirds in the Ems-Dollard region of Germany, which is also a tribute to George Atkinson-Willes. In particular recalls Atkinson-Willes’ heartfelt plea (in his 1961 paper entitled “Emsland without wildfowl”), for greater awareness of the consequences for birds reliant on these sites of the increasing pressure being exerted on wildfowl habitat throughout the Northwest European flyway. Whilst the area was indeed lost to many waterbirds during the second half of the 20th century, Kruckenberg found that, following the creation of two flood polders during the 1990s, the area is once again of international importance for migratory geese, swans and waders.

Contents

Contents   i-vi
Editorial   1-2

Review Papers
- Sixty years later: Emsland still without wildfowl? / Helmut Kruckenberg   3-28

Standard Papers
- The Icelandic Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus population: current status and long-term (1986–2020) trends in its numbers and distribution / Kane Brides, Kevin A. Wood, Colette Hall, Brian Burke, Graham McElwaine, Ólafur Einarsson, Neil Calbrade, Oisín Hill, Eileen C. Rees   29-57
- Factors influencing Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus numbers on the Isle of Tiree, Argyll, Scotland / John Bowler   58-71
- First record of synthetic micro-fibre ingestion by Mute Swans Cygnus olor and Whooper Swans C. cygnus / Neil E. Coughlan, Connie Baker-Arney, Kane Brides, Jaimie T.A. Dick, Rose M. Griffith, Craig Holmes, Ryan Johnston, Thomas C. Kelly, Linda Lyne, Eoghan M. Cunningham   72-82
- Seasonal changes in the diet of Mute Swans Cygnus olor in the recently colonised eastern Gulf of Finland / Sergei A. Kouzov, Yulia I. Gubelit, Anna V. Kravchuk, Elena M. Koptseva, Elmira M. Zaynagutdinova, Valentina N. Nikitina   83-107
- Seasonal changes of roosting and foraging areas for Lesser White-fronted Geese Anser erythropus wintering in Japan / Yusuke Sawa, Colette Hall, Chieko Tamura, Noboru Nakamura   108-119
- Habitat selection and foraging strategy of American Black Ducks Anas rubripes wintering in Tennessee, USA / Joshua M. Osborn, Heath M. Hagy, Matthew D. McClanahan, J. Brian Davis, Matthew J. Grey   120-146
- Assessing the current status of the Common Pochard Aythya ferina in Armenia / Karen Aghababyan, Anush Khachatryan, Sevak Baloyan, Asya Ghazaryan, Victorya Gevorgyan   147-166
- Consequences of fish farming cessation on carrying capacity for ducks breeding on French fishponds / Joël Broyer, Laurence Curtet, Gilles Chavas   167-178
- Strong evidence for two disjunct populations of Black Scoters Melanitta americana in North America / Timothy D. Bowman, Scott G. Gilliland, Jason L. Schamber, Paul L. Flint, Daniel Esler, W. Sean Boyd, Daniel H. Rosenberg, Jean-Pierre L. Savard, Matthew C. Perry, Jason E. Osenkowski   179-192
- Variability in remigial moult chronology and nutrient dynamics of Surf Scoters Melanita perspicillata / Scott G. Gilliland, Jean-Pierre L. Savard   193-220
- Seasonal abundance and breeding biology of the Velvet Scoter Melanitta fusca at Lake Tabatskuri, Georgia / Nika Paposhvili   221-233

Short Communications
- How aggressive are Egyptian Geese Alopochen aegyptiaca? Interactions with Greylag Geese Anser anser and other birds in an urban environment / Rieke Hohmann, Friederike Woog   234-243
- Comparing behavioural responses of Greylag Geese Anser anser and Egyptian Geese Alopochen aegyptiaca to human disturbance in an urban setting / Rieke Hohmann, Friederike Woog   244-261
- Modifying capture techniques for wild Laysan Teal Anas laysanensis / James H. Breeden, Jr., Kelly L. Goodale   262-269

Back Matter
- Instructions for Authors   270-274

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