Red-breasted goose

Branta ruficollis

Roodhalsgans / Rothalsgans / Bernache à cou roux

This species has a moderately small population which appears to have declined rapidly over a short time period. The reasons for this decline are largely unknown. Small populations of other Arctic breeding geese have shown dramatic population fluctuations and this may prove to be the case for this species. However, the species is precautionarily listed as Endangered.

Coordinated censuses in January 2003, 2004 and 2005 resulted in total population estimates of 33,600, 52,800 and 32,100 individuals respectively. The geometric mean of these totals 38,500. Recalculating this including the 2006 count of c.34,000 gives a revised geometric mean of 37,000 individuals, which is retained here as a minimum estimate. However, total counts of 40,800 in spring 2008 (primarily as a result of a large count in Kalmykia), 44,300 the following winter (Cranswick et al. 2010) and a maximum population count of 56,860 in autumn 2010 (Rozenfeld 2011a) lend further weight to the suggestion that counts in the mid 2000s might be partially incomplete because birds wintered away from the traditionally surveyed sites. Their population is decreasing (IUCN).

More information: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/100600387/0

Red-breasted geese in aviculture

Red-breasted geese are one of the most attractive geese weighing only about three pounds. Red-breasted geese lay about 4-7 eggs on the ground and incubate them for about 25 days.The sexes are similar but the gander (male) is a bit heavier. The geese usually nest at three or four years of age if properly managed. In aviculture, fresh grass should be available all the time, to feed on. In addition they need a diet of waterfowl pellets and possible weat and cracked corn in the winter months.  The feed should contain about 15 percent protein in the non-breeding period and about 18-20 percent protein in the breeding season. Fresh running water is recommended to swim and bath in all the time, which is needed to keep them clean and healthy. Ringsize: 12mm. 

Above: Adult and juvenile (front) geese

Above: Red-breasted goslings (tame goslings)

Above: Red-breasted geese are bred very well in collections

Above: Captive Red-breasted goose

Above: Red-breasted geese in flight, Bulgaria

Above: Red-breasted geese in flight, Bulgaria

Above: geese and Eurasian cranes (Grus grus) in Vogelpark Avifauna, birdpark

Above: geese and Eurasian cranes (Grus grus) in Vogelpark Avifauna, birdpark