AMoveE 2014: Andrea Kölzsch
Channel: Movebank
Date: 2014-05-23

This talk was presented by Andrea Kölzsch on 7 May 2014 as part of the Symposium on Animal Movement and the Environment, held at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh.

Kölzsch A, Müskens GJDM, Kruckenberg H, Wikelski M, 2014, "Goose family behaviour decoded by accelerometers and high-frequency GPS"

Abstract: Most species of migratory geese fly between their breeding and wintering grounds in family groups. Some families even stay together all winter and during the first spring migration. So, from observation studies it has been concluded that the juveniles learn migration timing, the route and about foraging opportunities from their parents. However, how exactly this knowledge is passed on is still unknown. What is the role of each of the parents and do the young stay close to them at all times? To pursue those questions we have tagged 14 adult and 6 young greater white-fronted geese (Anser a. albifrons) in family groups in their Russian breeding sites using GPS transmitters with 3D accelerometers. Additionally, in the wintering grounds 3 complete families (each with 2 adults and 2 young) were caught and equipped with such a tag. High resolution positions and accelerometer measurements that were downloaded during the winter provide insights in the foraging and social behaviour of those geese in the breeding sites, during migration and in the winter. First results from the breeding sites indicate that compared to the parents the young geese move much more, but usually stay very close to their parents. However, the young also seem to take small detours, during which they seem to stay together with their siblings. We expect to see similar dynamics during migration and wintering as families aggregate into larger flocks. From GPS tracks of adult white-fronted geese of the same population that were collected in 2006--2010 we know that they migrate in a narrow front from the Russian Tundra to their Central European wintering sites, stopping at sites along the sea or on large lakes to refuel. There was high variation in timing of autumn migration between years and individuals indicating that it is important for young geese to learn about the correct cues and suitable stopover sites. Such knowledge will influence their future survival and reproductive success, giving us baseline insight into the beginning of complete life time tracks of individual animals.