Quarry species Greylag, pink-footed geese and Canada geese can be shot legally between 1 September and 31 January (20 February below the high water mark). During the closed season, these species may only be killed under licence.
Are pink-footed geese rare?
Rare but increasing winter visitor to northeastern North America, almost always with flocks of Canada Geese.
What is the difference between a greylag and pink-footed goose?
The best way to tell the difference is by looking at their bills. The bill of a pink-footed goose is mainly black with a pink section in the middle (below left). The bill of a greylag goose is all orange (below right).
Where do pink-footed geese migrate from?
Greenland/Iceland Pink-footed Geese breed primarily in central Iceland and in smaller numbers along the east coast of Greenland. Many thousands of non-breeding birds migrate from Iceland to northeast Greenland to moult. Migration begins in early autumn to the wintering grounds, which are almost entirely in Britain.
Can pink footed geese be shot?
Greylag, pink-footed and Canada geese are quarry species, and can be shot during the open season. Barnacle geese and white-fronted geese are fully protected at all times, and can only be shot under licence (see section 3).
Where do pink-footed geese winter?
Pink-footed geese spend the summer in the breeding grounds in countries including Iceland and Greenland and return to overwinter in Scotland and the rest of the UK. They spend their winter nights resting on or near estuaries and their winter days feeding on the surrounding fields.
What do pink-footed geese eat?
What they eat: Grain, winter cereals, potatoes and grass.
Can you shoot pink footed geese?
Greylag, pink-footed and Canada geese are quarry species, and can be shot during the open season.
Do greylag geese migrate?
Many Greylag Geese from eastern Sweden, Finland and east central Europe migrate south and winter in Italy, the Balkans and in North Africa (Algeria and Tunisia). Moult migration in non-breeders involves movements from central Europe to the Baltic, Denmark and the Netherlands.
Where do pink-footed geese go in winter?
Do geese leave UK in autumn?
Where do geese migrate to from the UK? Geese migrate to Britain in autumn, overwintering on our shores before leaving once more in spring. The different species migrate to different locations, including Greenland, Iceland and Svalbard.
What do pink-footed geese do in Norfolk?
There are regularly more than 100,000 pink-footed geese in north Norfolk and the Broads. They feed in the arable farmland on post-harvest cereal stubbles, sugar beet tops and winter wheat crops. Damage to crops can be minimised with careful management. Pink-footed geese are highly susceptible to human disturbance.
What does a pink footed goose look like?
Key information. The pink-footed goose is a medium-sized goose, smaller than a mute swan but bigger than a mallard. It is pinkish grey with a dark head and neck, a pink bill and pink feet and legs.
How dangerous are pink-footed geese to humans?
Pink-footed geese are highly susceptible to human disturbance. Research suggests that they avoid feeding in fields which are close to roads. Shooting disturbs the geese more and disperses them over a wide area, often onto vulnerable crops.
How do you manage sugar beets for geese?
Target goose management measures on larger fields away from major roads and on fields that you know are traditionally used by geese. Pink-footed geese prefer to feed on post-harvest sugar beet tops. They will graze on harvested sugar beet fields for up to 30 days after harvest.
