The lives of Geese

In Germany, Austria and Switzerland today for thousands of farmers worry about lead that flock of geese can be a carefree life - day after day, year after year.

The mute swans - world record holder among the water birds

The lesser white-fronted goose (Anser erythropus) is a genus of geese field and thus to the family of ducks (Anatidae). Also known as dwarf goose species represents one of the rarest goose species in Europe and was first described in Carl von Linné's work "Systema Naturae" from the year 1758. Observed during the winter months in Western Europe, including the breeding area of the Eurasian lesser white-fronted goose forest tundra and the northern part of the forest zone and the southern areas of shrub tundra. For wintering the white-fronted goose areas used in the front and Asia Minor, the Nilebene, southern Japan, Korea and Southeast China and the south of the Caspian Sea. With a body length of 53-66 centimeters reached the lesser white-fronted goose a weight from 1.4 to 2.2 kg and has a wingspan of 120-135 cm.

Similar in coloration and habit of the European white-fronted goose, goose is the dwarf in comparison to their European relatives but darker and smaller. Other distinguishing features of European white-fronted goose is upwards and between the eyes, ending his forehead pale and bright yellow eye-ring, which already expresses in young birds and occurs first after the so-called youth moulting in November of the first year of life.

Compared to the white-fronted goose is lesser white-fronted goose to the ventral side quergestreift less pronounced, the beak is more delicate and extended wingtips addition, it has a rounder head. Despite all the species-specific differentiators, the dwarf goose in flight to be confused easily with the white-fronted goose, which has led to their decimation up to extreme portfolio risk. Was the lesser white-fronted goose earlier in the northern areas of Scandinavia over the Urals across to widespread into reaching to Siberia, then they disappeared in recent decades from large areas of their former nesting areas. Explain this retreat from the original distribution areas with the erroneous (due to incorrect identification) and illegal hunting in the traditional wintering grounds. attracts migratory birds as the white-fronted goose for overwintering in the characteristic V-shape in the winter in the south. The flight paths of lesser white-fronted goose are not genetically determined but are transmitted from old animals to young animals. The food of the Lesser White consists of short grasses and herbs, which is why it is important that the areas to forage only low vegetation have so that the natural need for security meets the animals is.

As a breeding bird, the higher layers fronted goose nests preferably in swamps and marshes where her nest is on snow-free hills and in thickets. The breeding season lasts from late May to early June and it will wind up only one clutch per year. The shallow cavity of the nest is lined with moss, down, feathers and plants. The size of the scrim comprises between five and seven elliptical to oval shaped, cream colored eggs which are incubated by the male parent. The incubation period of 25 to 28 days beginning immediately after the last egg is deposited. The nest will remain volatile chicks reared by both parents until the first winter with them.