Choice of Daily Flight Routes of Greater White-Fronted Geese: Effects of Power Lines

Abstract

-Choice of daily flight routes by Greater White-fronted Geese (Anser albifrons) were related to the position of power lines over rice fields and in woodland adjacent to Lake Izunuma-Uchinuma, northernJapan, during October-February in 1996-97, 1997-98 and 1998-99. Two types of route were considered: flight lines over power lines standing in the rice fields and flight lines over power lines partially concealed in woodland. Although food availability (size of rice fields within 12 km of the lake beyond the rice fields) was similar for direct flight lines beyond the two positions of the power lines, the proportion of geese flying over the power lines standing in the woods was appreciably and significantly higher than those in rice fields. In some cases, the geese took an indirect flight route to avoid crossing the power lines in the rice fields. It is evident that the position and "exposure" of power lines affect the flight behavior of geese. Received 30 May 2001, accepted 8 August 2001.