Wigeon (Anas penelope L.) conservation and salting pasture management at Bridgwater Bay National Nature Reserve, Somerset

• Published in: The Journal of applied ecology 1972-08, Vol.9 (2), p.417-425
• Main Authors: Cadwalladr, D.A, Owen, M, Morley, J.V, Cook, R.S
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: agronomy; crop production; field crops; Geese; Grasses; Grazing; Grazing management; Nature conservation; Overwintering; Pasture management; Pastures; plant cultural practices; plants; Sheep; Sward
• ISSN: 0021-8901; 1365-2664
• DOI: 10.2307/2402442

A count of the number of wigeon droppings in the two main types of grass sward represented on the salt-marsh of Fenning Island at Bridgwater Bay over a period of two winters, confirmed earlier subjective observations that wigeon feed on Puccinellia maritima/ Agrostis stolonifera sward in preference to the Festuca rubra sward. Similar observations on sheep droppings on the plots showed that they feed on the same grass species as the wigeon when they are folded on Fenning Island after the wigeon have left. Owing to the greater height above O.D. preference of F. rubra than those of Puccinellia maritima and Agrostis stolonifera, the invasion of the former species into swards composed of the latter two species indicates siltation is occurring on Fenning Island. As this invasion progresses so the feeding areas available to wigeon will decrease with the loss of the Puccinellia maritima/Agrostis stolonifera areas. If the wigeon stocks of Bridgwater Bay are to be conserved the spread of Festuca rubra and its rank growth will have to be halted. The feasibility of various methods of achieving this by causing the F. rubra areas to revert to Puccinellia maritima/Agrostis stolonifera such as turf cutting, or greater intensity of sheep grazing, or by mowing is discussed.