Managing the distribution of barnacle geese on Islay, Scotland, through deliberate human disturbance Original Research Article

A programme of disturbance was used during 1987/1988 to manipulate the feeding areas used by barnacle geese, Branta leucopsis, on the Isle of Islay, Scotland. A reduction in the numbers of geese using the disturbed areas of just over 50% was recorded. Observations of marked individuals showed that there was increased movement to undisturbed sites and a slightly increased immigration rate, but many individuals persisted in using heavily disturbed sites. There was no evidence of reduced breeding success in the following summer as a consequence of wintering in the scaring zone. High labour costs meant that the scheme was not economic, but modifications for more cost-effective operation in the future are suggested. More birds used protected refuges but the longer-term impact of scaring on population viability would need to be investigated before such a scheme was adopted.