Chichester Harbour Conservancy - Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Goose Watch

Goose Watch is a scheme for volunteers to monitor the movements of Brent Geese on the inland fields around the AONB. The Geese are regularly counted as part of the Wetland Bird Survey. However, these counts only cover the shoreline areas so Goose Watch was set up in 2008 to help complete the picture of which inland areas are favoured by the Geese.

Brent Geese are on the Amber List for Conservation so Chichester Harbour is very important for them. Over 10,000 visit the harbour each winter, around 5% of the total population.

Goose Watch volunteers are given basic training in bird identification, bird counting skills, and identifying crops types and the ones preferred by the Geese. There is no need to have any previous birdwatching skills to get involved. Volunteers are assigned fields to monitor, these will usually be areas that are easy for them to visit regularly, on at least a fortnightly basis. Feedback on sightings is sent in to the Conservancy as and when flocks are seen.

If you would like to get involved with this scheme, please contact Ed Rowsell, Conservation Officer.

 

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