Red-breasted goose colonies on the Taimyr Peninsula: Factors responsible for the proximity of goose nests to nests of peregrine falcons, rough-legged buzzards, and snowy owls

• Published in: Biology bulletin of the Russian Academy of Sciences 2009-10, Vol.36 (5), p.469-478
• Main Authors: Kharitonov, S. P, Nowak, D. E, Nowak, A. I, Egorova, N. A, Korkina, S. A, Osipov, D. V, Natal'skaya, O. V
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biochemistry; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Brackish; Cell Biology; Ecology; Life Sciences; Zoology
• ISSN: 1062-3590; 1608-3059
• DOI: 10.1134/S1062359009050070

Red-breasted goose colonies have been studied near Medusa Bay (73°21'N, 80°32'E), on the northwestern Taimyr Peninsula, and along the Agapa River (70°11'N, 86°15'E) down to its mouth (71°26'N, 89° 13'E), in the central Taimyr Peninsula. Red-breasted geese nesting near peregrine falcons are protected by the falcons from arctic foxes; however, they are sometimes attacked by the falcons themselves. In the colonies near peregrine falcon nests, the vast majority of goose nests were situated no farther than 100 m from the falcon nest. When food is abundant, falcons protect a larger area around their nest. The distance between the falcon nest and the surrounding goose nests is inversely related to the falcon's activity. In years of higher falcon activity, falcons prevent red-breasted geese from nesting as close to their nest as in years of lower falcon activity. Additional stimuli are required for red-breasted geese to form colonies near rough-legged buzzard nests. The distance between snowy owl nests and red-breasted goose nests was smaller when arctic foxes were abundant than when they were scarce.