Within-winter shifts in Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus distribution at East Dongting Lake, China

At the important wintering site, East Dongting Lake in the Yangtze River flood-plain, Lesser White-fronted Geese Anser erythropus showed within-season shifts in distribution and abundance between local areas. On arrival in November, over 4,000 geese grazed high-biomass stands of new growth spikerush Eleocharis migoana on exposed mud flats at Caisang Lake. High feeding densities depleted Eleocharis by early December, when the geese departed to feed on old-growth above-ground Carex heterolepis at nearby lakes. Cool, arid conditions inhibited plant growth until January, when the grass Alopecurus aequalis and C. heterolepis restarted growing, attracting geese back to Caisang Lake. Greater numbers returned in late February when E. migoana began to grow, rapidly building to peak at 4,500 in late March when geese began spring migration. Habitat management that maintains these patterns of plant growth and availability may be critical to keeping present Lesser White-fronted Goose numbers at this site.