Remote Tracking of the Spatio-Temporal Distribution of Western Taiga Bean Geese (Anser fabalis fabalis, Anseriformes, Aves) in Russia for Improving the Conservation Strategy

Until recently, the western taiga bean goose had remained one of the least studied goose subspecies. It was unknown from which regions of Russia these birds migrated to winter in northern Germany and Poland. The sharp decline in their numbers in northern European wintering grounds and the need for conservation measures, including those under international agreements and conventions, have spurred interest in studying this subspecies. A proposal to list the western taiga bean goose in the Russian Red Data Book, which was actively opposed by the hunting lobby, sparked considerable public outcry. As a result, the western taiga bean goose is partially listed in the Red Data Book of Russia (2021), based solely on the administrative division of its territory, without due consideration of its migration patterns, its vulnerability to hunting along the flyway, or the inadequate protection of migratory stopovers and premigratory stopovers. We analyzed the phenology and migration patterns, as well as the conservation status of the western taiga bean goose along the flyway and at its nesting sites. An analysis of the migration dynamics and phenology of the western taiga bean goose nesting in the forest zone of Western and Central Siberia, based on GPS data, revealed that less than 16% of key sites are protected by the existing network of specially protected natural areas (SPNAs), where the birds spend 19.2% of their time. Telemetry data showed that the western taiga bean goose associated with its northern European wintering grounds is completely unprotected along its flyway. At the same time, spring hunting pressure in Russia has sharply increased, driven by amendments to the Law “On Hunting…” and Hunting Regulations. To preserve the western taiga bean goose, it is necessary to establish protected areas in key areas identified by telemetry, as well as list the entire species in the Red Data Book of Russia as a subspecies.