Greylag Goose

Dark-blue neckring with a white 3 alpha-numeric code (1 letter and 2 numbers or recently 1 number and  2 letters).

note 1 : some recent neckrings are very dark-blue or rather black-looking.

note 2 : https://portal.research.lu.se/en/persons/leif-nilsson/network/

note 3 :

Black neckband with white code (3 alpha code and a bar after the first alpha code).

note 1 : used letters are: A, C, F, H, J, L, M, N, P, R, T, U, V, W and X.

note 2 : used number are: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.

note 3 : birds ringed since 1985.

note 4 :

Yellow neckband with a 3 alpha-numeric code (1 letter and 2 numbers).

note 1 : this project continues former neckringing activities of the former „Forschungsstelle für Ökologie der Wasservögel“ at the Potsdam university in Eastern Germany and was restarted in 2007. The new project will mainly study the origin and migration pattern of Greylags at recently established moulting sites in Eastern Germany. Since 2016 Greylag Goose ringing is continued as part of a new ringing project, initiated by Thomas Heinicke and the Hiddensee Bird Ringing Centre, now covering all the East German states.

note 2 : used neckrings have the same design like the European Greater White-fronted and Bean Goose project (1 letter and in 270° two numbers). Currently, the letters N, H, S and F are in use. Since 2010, we also use neckrings with a 3 letters code (always letter N or H and in 90” two other letters).

note 3 : from 2007 to 2016, more than 600 birds have been ringed at two moulting sites on island Rügen/Mecklenburg-West Pommerania (lake Nonnensee Bergen, wetland near Promoisel). From 2010 onwards we also use yellow neckrings in two urban areas in Saxony (Leipzig, Dresden & Pirna), at one moulting site in Eastern Brandenburg and two other breeding areas in Southernmost Brandenburg and in Saxony-Anhalt (region around Köthen). 

note 4 :  neckringing activities in Eastern Germany were started in the 1970ies and ran until 1988. Only a few birds from that period might still alive. Please note, that these yellow rings faded and are now whitish. Following design was used: number-letter-number (e.g.1A0; only letter A was used), letter-number-number (e.g. K01; following letters were used: A, B, C, D, F, H, I, K, N, R, S, T, U, V, X, Z) and number-letter (e.g. 1A; following letters were used: A, B, C, E, F, H, J, K, L, N, O, P, R, S, T, U, V, X, Y, Z).

note 5 : Please note, that neckbands of the F- und S-series as well as those with 3-letter combinations unfortunately quickly fade into yellow-white color.

note 6 : In 2016, some goslings as well as some adults got additional legrings (yellow,3 number code) to study the amount of neckband losses.

note 7 : 

Orange neckring with a black 3 alpha-code.

note  : birds are marked in Iceland and UK to investigate movements from/to Iceland, movements within the UK and to assess survival rates.

note 1 : this project is a joint WWT/Icelandic Institute of Natural History/Highland Ringing Group project.

note 2 : one third of all birds will carry an individual plastic legring. If the code has been read on the neckring, there is no need to read the legring, but please report whether the ring was present or not or whether this was unknown.

note 3 : recently the letter 'K' was used, but no longer the letter 'Y'.   

Blue ring (on right leg) with white code (1 letter and 2 numbers or 2 letters en 1 number) and metal ring (on left leg).
note 1 : used codes are A, E, H, G and J01-99, X50-79, C01-99, L01-99. New codes from 2012 onwards : AA1-LZ9. 

note 2 : 1643 (31.12.2021) are ringed that way. The project started in May '99. Reports are mostly from Germany, but also from Denmark, The Netherlands, France, Spain and Norway.

note 3 :

Red neckring with white code (1 letter (starting V) and 2 numbers).

note 1 : the letter used is V and this is on a vertical position with the numbers perpendicular to the letter.

note 2 : during May 2002 24 birds were ringed on the breeding grounds of Goplo Lake, Wielkopoldska, Poland.

note 3 : the ringing stopped in 2003, but the project is still running.

Grey neckband with code (1 letter and 2 numbers in black D00-N82).

note 1 : the letter is vertical, the 2 numbers are horizontal.

note 2 : over 1,200 birds were ringed on the Inner Hebridean Isles of Tiree and Coll 1998-2016 to study movements between the islands.

note 3 : these birds were mostly ringed as adults, goslings received a yellow leg-ring. 

note 4 : these Greylags are from the largely sedentary NW Scottish population and are very unlikely to be seen away from north and west Scotland. Fewer than 20 ringed birds remained in March 2022. 

note 5 : this is a joint RSPB Scotland / Coll Conservation Group / Scottish Natural Heritage Project with assistance from The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust and Grampian Ringing Group.

note 6 :

Yellow ring with code (3 letters in black AAA-BXA).

note 1 : some 1,200 birds were ringed on the Inner Hebridean Isles of Tiree and Coll 1998-2016, to study movements between the islands.

note 2 : these birds were mostly ringed as goslings, adults received a grey neck-collar.

note 3 : these Greylags are from the largely sedentary NW Scottish population and are very unlikely to be seen away from north and west Scotland. Fewer than 20 ringed birds remained in March 2022. 

note 4 : this is a joint RSPB Scotland / Coll Conservation Group / Scottish Natural Heritage Project with assistance from The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust and Grampian Ringing Group.

note 5 :

Yellow neckring with black code (number/number/letter) or (number/letter/letter) or (letter/letter/letter).

note 1 : rings from this project allways end with a letter.

note 2 : there are two types of rings: 1. all letters/numbers in one line 2. the first number is vertically, the second number and the letter is horizontally.

note 3 : several species, mainly introduced, were ringed all over Germany since 1997 in this project. Actual numbers (2007): 7870 ringings, 114167 recoveries (2009): 9228 ringings, 143741 recoveries of swans, geese, goosehybrids and Flamingos.

Blue ring with white three alpha-numeric code.

note 1 : several species, mainly introduced, were ringed all over Germany since 1997 in this project. Actual numbers (2022): ~ 16.000 ringings, 200.000 recoveries of swans, geese, goosehybrids and Flamingos.

note 2 : the program started in 2000 in several urban areas in Germany (f.e. Munich, Hamburg, Kiel) with introduced Greylag Geese populations.

note 3 : several birds are ringed which grown up with Canada Geese or hybrid parents.

note 4 :