Indicator 2.21 - Pink-Footed Goose

This indicator only applies to Landsvirkjun's project.

The Kárahnjukar project was expected to impact the pink-footed goose. Three types of effects were predicted. First, some breeding sites and grazing land wouldbe inundated by Hálslón Reservoir. Second, more traffic in the area during construction, and later because of better access to the area, could disturb the birds. Third, construction work in Glúmsstadadal valley could damage some of the breeding sites located there. 

Performance

a. Number of breeding birds in selected sites in the river basins of Jokulsá in Dal and Jokulsá in Fljótsdalur valley.

The stock of pink footed goose has increased rapidly for the past decade. This development has been very obvious in the Fljótsdalur area and the moorlands in the higher area. Hálslón Reservoir did not cause a reduction in the number of geese in spite of the decreased grazing area and the fact that almost 500 (486) nests that disappeared (see table under "Baseline").

This development is shown in the following graphs: one from areas close to Hálslón and the other by river Jökla in Upper Jökuldalur valley and in Hnefilsdalur valley. The development indicates that a shortage of nesting places does not affect the pink footed goose. More detailed information is to be found in a report made by the East Iceland Institute of Natural Research did for Landsvirkjun on the impact of Kárahnjúkar plant on the pink footed goose (only available in Icelandic, here).

Graph 1: Counting in Hnefilsdalur valley and Steinshlaup-Merki 1980-2010.

Graph 2: Counting in Háls-Vestur Öræfi, Hafrahvammar and Hrafnkelsdalur 1981-2011.

b. Number of geese in moulting in Eyjabakkar and by Hálslón Reservoir.

Moulting pink footed geese were counted in Snaefellsöræfi, including Eyjabakkar and by Hálslón Reservoir, in 2008. Out of 7,911 geese, 2,121 were in the Eyjabakkar area and 5,790 by Hálslón Reservoir and its vicinity. Goslings accounted for 30% of these.

In 2011, the counting was repeated in the same area and there turned out to be a total of 10,110 moulting pink footed geese (including Thorláksmýrar, with 98 birds), thereof 5,035 in Eyjabakkar. Goslings were 417, which is about 4%. The percentage of yearlings in the moulting group in Eyjabakkar has been on record since 2009 and it is growing: 28% (2009), 33% (2010) and 44% (2011). The ratio of yearlings seems to indicate how successful hatching was in the previous year and the survival rate of goslings.

Information on the number of pink footed geese moulting in Snaefellsöræfi is not yet available, and will be added at a later point.

Metrics, Targets & Monitoring Protocol

1. Number of breeding birds in selected sites in the river basins of Jokulsá in Dal and Jokulsá in Fljótsdalur valley. (Project effect: indirect)
2. Number of geese in moulting in Snaefellsoraefi. (Project effect: indirect)

Targets/expectations:

1. The number of breeding birds will not decrease more than 600 pairs.
2. The number of geese in moulting in Snaefellsoraefi will not decrease from baseline information collected in 2005.

Monitoring Protocol

1. The birds (number of pink footed geese in chosen areas) will be counted twice (2005 and 2007). After the second counting a decision will be made about future monitoring.

2. The birds (number of moulting pink footed geese) will be counted twice (2005 and 2007). After the second counting a decision will be made about future monitoring.

Rationale for Indicator Selection

The Kárahnjúkar project will impact the pink-footed goose. Three types of effects are predicted. First, some breeding sites and grazing land will be inundated by Hálslón Reservoir. Second, more traffic in the area during construction, and later because of better access to the area, can disturb the birds. Third, construction work in Glúmsstadadalur valley will damage some of the breeding site located there. 

In 2000, a total of 2,200 nesting pairs of pink-footed geese occured within the impact area of the dam. Nesting sites for a total of 500 to 600 breeding pairs were inundated by Halslon Reservoir, which amounted to about one-third of all nests in Brúardalir and Vesturoraefi, seven percent of breeding pairs in East Iceland, and 1-2 percent of the total number of breeding pairs in the Icelandic-Greenlandic stock.

The land that dissappeared under Halslon Reservoir is considered an internationally important breeding site for the pink-footed goose according to criteria in the Ramsar Convention and the International Bird Committee.

In addition, grazing land for non-nesting geese will be interrupted during construction, which was expected to reduce habitat availability in the area. Neither Hálslón Reservoir nor other smaller reservoirs created for the dam are likely to influence moulting sites for the pink footed goose's moulting sites.

Baseline

The number of pink footed goose breeding pairs in East Iceland almost quadrupled in the period from 1980 to 2000. This increase has been similar proportionally to the total increase in the Icelandic-Greenlandic stock.

In 1981, 2,000 pairs were estimated to nest in the area, 4,000 pairs in 1988 and 7,300 pairs in the year 2000. This number accounts for roughly 15-20 percent of the breeding pairs of the Icelandic-Greenlandic stock. The Icelandic-Greenlandic stock accounts for 85 percent of pink footed geese in the world.

In 2005, almost 50 percent of all breeding pairs in East Iceland (3,300 pairs) nested in 40 sites that are located in the river basins of Jokulsá in Dal. The largest sites are in Kringilsarrani (300-400 pairs), along the river upstream of Sandfell (i.e. the area that was inundated by Halslon Reservoir, 330 pairs), in Hafrahvammagljúfur (206), between Holknár and Merkis (435), by Hnefla (407) and in Glúmsstadadal valley (293). Roughly 500 pairs are thought to nest in the river basin of Jokulsá in Fljotsdal and the largest site is located between Kleifar and Laugará (96 pairs).

In some of the breeding sites in the river basin of Jokulsá in Dal the number of nests had remained stable during the last 20 years before the dam was built, or grown very slowly (by less than 3 percent per year). Other sites had, however, grown rapidly, even up to 10-15 percent per year. Overall, the breeding stock of the pink-footed goose in East Iceland has been growing at a similar rate as the Icelandic-Greenlandic stock that showed high growth rates from 1980 to 1995.

The table below shows breeding sites for the pink-footed goose that were considered to disappear or be damaged because of the Kárahnjúkar project.

Source: IINH