Field selection in a guild of geese: Seasonal dynamics and implications for crop damage mitigation

Goose management and crop damage mitigation are multi-species endeavors affected by agricultural practices and other environmental factors that vary in space and time. Yet, most previous studies concern single goose species and limited spatio-temporal scales. We analyzed selection of crop types in combination with field stages (pre- vs post-harvest) and assessed the probability of geese using different fields, in co-occurring goose species across seasons and over multiple years. The study was conducted in two landscapes differing in agricultural practices and seasonal composition of goose species and crops. We found several overarching trends in field selection and use of growing crops across species and study areas, but also considerable variability among seasons and species, highlighting the complexity goose management is facing. Fields used for livestock feed production, such as pastures and ley fields, were typically the most selected in spring and summer, as were post-harvest fields when and where available in summer. In autumn and winter geese mainly selected post-harvest fields. Selection for growing cereal crops was generally higher in winter and spring. A general advice for reducing goose grazing and potential damage to growing crops is to leave harvest residues in untilled fields for as long as possible in autumn and early winter. Sowing in spring rather than in fall is another way to reduce grazing, specifically on cereals during winter and early spring, if feasible given other factors affecting crop rotation. However, management needs to adopt adaptive strategies tailored to specific species, regions, and seasons to successfully reduce crop damage risk by grazing geese. • The complexity of goose foraging behavior challenges crop damage prevention. • We assessed field selection and related damage risk in a multi-species context. • Field selection varied among species, seasons and study areas. • Species-specific field selection behavior calls for adaptive management strategies. • Careful choice of crops and timing of agricultural practices can reduce damage risk.