鄱阳湖4种鹤类集群特征与成幼组成的时空变化

2014年10月—2015年4月,采用样点法对鄱阳湖45个样点的白鹤(Grus leucogeranus)、白头鹤(G.monacha)、白枕鹤(G.vipio)和灰鹤(G.grus)的集群大小、集群类型和成幼组成进行调查。结果显示,白鹤的平均集群大小(23.86±10.26)只(集群数N=104),白头鹤(6.42±1.63)只(N=98),白枕鹤(6.09±2.55)只(N=105),灰鹤(5.55±1.26)只(N=246)。仅白头鹤中期集群大小显著小于后期,其余鹤类各时期及灰鹤各地区的集群大小差异不显著。鄱阳湖鹤类的集群大小并不符合警戒行为对集群大小的预测,生境质量差异可能是影响鄱阳湖鹤类集群大小的主要原因之一。4种鹤类均在1—5只个体的小集群中出现频度最高。白鹤在35只个体集群中的个体比例最高,而白头鹤、白枕鹤和灰鹤在1—5只个体集群和35只个体集群均有较高的个体比例。白鹤、白头鹤、白枕鹤和灰鹤均以家庭群为主,其家庭群所占比例分别为(64.29%,总集群数N=98)、(71.91%,N=89)、(70.77%,N=65)和(63.11%,N=206)。鄱阳湖鹤类以家庭群为主表明,保证充足的食物供应可能比花费更多的觅食时间更为重要。白鹤家庭群以2成1幼为主(65.08%),白头鹤(51.56%)、白枕鹤(52.17%)和灰鹤(47.69%)以2成为主。白鹤、白头鹤、白枕鹤和灰鹤群体的幼鸟比例分别为12.27%(个体数N=1695)、14.42%(N=416)、16.59%(N=229)和20.46%(N=655)。2成2幼集群比例极低表明,白鹤家庭同时抚养2个幼鸟成活的难度较其它3种鹤类大。4种鹤类在各时期的幼鸟比例差异不显著。在灰鹤个体数较多的3个地区中,都昌候鸟省级自然保护区(25.25%)和东鄱阳湖国家级湿地公园(25.14%)的幼鸟比例分别显著和极显著地高于鄱阳湖国家级自然保护区(14.24%)。鄱阳湖白鹤的幼鸟比例多年来均处于较低水平,白头鹤的幼鸟比例较2012—2013年冬季明显下降,灰鹤和白枕鹤种群可能处于稳定或增长状态。     

鄱阳湖越冬雁鸭类的种群动态与时空分布

2014年10月—2015年4月,采用样点法对鄱阳湖5个区域的47个样点中越冬雁鸭类数量与分布进行了调查。共记录雁鸭类18种,包括国家Ⅱ级重点保护动物小天鹅Cygnus columbianus和白额雁Anser albifrons。豆雁Anser fabalis的累计数量最多,其次为小天鹅、白额雁、鸿雁Anser cygnoides和罗纹鸭Anas falcata;斑嘴鸭Anas poecilorhyncha出现频次最高,其次为豆雁、小天鹅、鸿雁和白额雁;斑嘴鸭、豆雁和小天鹅出现湖泊数最多。浅水湖泊、草洲和泥滩是多数越冬雁鸭类偏好的生境。鄱阳湖国家级自然保护区集中了最多、最全的雁鸭类。     

安徽沿江两个浅水型湖泊越冬水鸟的季节动态(英文)

安徽沿江浅水型通江湖泊湿地是东亚-澳大利亚迁徙水鸟的重要越冬地和停歇地。近年来,高强度的渔业养殖使湿地严重退化,对越冬水鸟构成威胁。为了解湿地变化对越冬迁徙水鸟的影响,2007年11-2008年4月和2008年11月-2009年4月,对安徽菜子湖和升金湖11个样带内越冬水鸟的种类、数量及空间分布进行了调查,并分析了湖泊渔业模式对水鸟分布的影响。两个湖泊共统计到越冬水鸟7目12科43种。其中,菜子湖群38种,密度为8.2ind./hm2;升金湖42种,密度为3.5ind./hm2,优势种为鸿雁(Anser cygnoides)、豆雁(Anser fabalis)、小天鹅(Cygnus columbianus)和黑腹滨鹬(Calidris alpina)。越冬水鸟种类和数量在12月底-次年1月上旬达到最大值,但不同类型越冬群最大数量出现的具体时期有所不同。根据水鸟组成的聚类分析,可将水鸟栖息地分为三组。水鸟的分布与渔业模式有关,在自然捕捞区,鹤类、雁鸭类和鸻鹬类密度较大,在围网养殖区密度较小,而鹭类的密度在各湖区变化都较小。本研究结果提示,发展可持续渔业对于长江中下游浅水湖泊湿地越冬水鸟资源的保护具有重要意义。     

鄱阳湖非繁殖期水鸟的微生境利用及对水位的响应

为了解鄱阳湖水鸟的微生境利用及对水位的响应,2014年10月—2015年4月采用样点法对鄱阳湖5个区域52个样点的水鸟数量和微生境利用进行了调查。结果表明:小天鹅(Cygnus columbianus)、鹤鹬(Tringa erythropus)和白琵鹭(Platalea leucorodia)等8种水鸟以浅水生境为主,豆雁(Anser fabalis)、鸿雁(Anser cygnoides)和赤麻鸭(Tadorna ferruginea)以浅水和草洲生境为主,白额雁(Anser albifrons)和灰鹤(Grus grus)以草洲生境为主,白骨顶(Fulica atra)和凤头??(Podiceps cristatus)以深水生境为主,红嘴鸥(Larus ridibundus)和小??(Tachybaptus ruficollis)以深水和浅水生境为主。通过分析水鸟数量与星子站水位的关系表明:鄱阳湖水鸟总数量与水位呈负相关,鄱阳湖国家级自然保护区吴城片区、都昌候鸟省级自然保护区和进贤区域在水位为8 m左右出现水鸟数量高峰,而鄱阳湖国家级自然保护区恒丰片区、南矶湿地国家级自然保护区和东鄱阳湖湿地公园在水位为10~12m时数量最多;各区域水位与不同科及不同种水鸟的分布数量主要呈负相关,??科水鸟因潜水取食需要一定水深,其分布数量与水位在一些区域呈显著正相关。     

达赉湖水域变化对水鸟群落的影响

内蒙古达赉湖国家级自然保护区是东北亚鸟类迁徙的重要停歇地和繁殖地,被列入拉姆萨尔"国际重要湿地"。近10年来,达赉湖面积急剧减少,造成湿地环境变化,从而可能对水鸟群落结构产生影响。本文分析了达赉湖2004—2013年湖水面积变化对水鸟群落结构的影响,主要研究结果如下:湖水面积与水鸟多样性及均匀度指数呈显著负相关,与雁形目全年平均多样性指数呈不显著负相关,与鸻形目全年平均多样性指数呈显著负相关,与鹳形目全年平均多样性指数呈不显著正相关。对湖水面积与重点保护物种数量的相关性分析表明,2004年到2011年湖水面积下降期间,灰鹤Grus grus、蓑羽鹤Anthropoides virgo、大天鹅Cygnus cygnus、小天鹅C.columbianus及遗鸥Larus relictus的种群数量均有所增加,而丹顶鹤G.japonensis、白枕鹤G.vipio及疣鼻天鹅C.olor的种群数量则在下降。随着内蒙古东北部暖干化气候的持续,湖水面积的继续缩减可能引起大面积沙化,进而影响水鸟的停留和繁殖,因此有必要对该地区水鸟群落与湖泊动态的关系进行长期监测。     

天津地区水鸟区系组成及多样性分析

1997年10月－2000年12月间,作者对天津地区的20处湿地的水鸟进行了调查,共记录到水鸟107种,分属7目14科39属。其中候鸟103种,占总数的96.2%。Xing形目和雁形目无论在种类上还是在数量上都占绝对优势,分别占水鸟群落种类组成的41.1%和31.1%。记录到包括东方白鹳（Ciconia boyciana)、黑鹳（Ciconia nigra)、丹顶鹤（Grus japonensis)、白鹤（Grus leucogeranus)、大鸨（Otis tarda)及遗鸥（Larus relictus)在内的国家Ⅰ级保护物种6种。记录到国家Ⅱ级保护物种8种,分别为白枕鹤（Grus vipio)、蓑羽鹤（Anthropoides virgo)、灰鹤（Grus grus)、海鸬鹚（Phalacrocorax pelagicus)、大天鹅（Cygnus cygnus)、小天鹅（C.columbianus)、疣鼻天鹅（C.olor)、白额雁（Anser albifrons)。对包括北大港水库、团泊洼水库、七里海水库及尔王庄水库在内的4个重点调查区域进行水鸟多样性分析表明,北大港水库的物种多样性及科、属多样性均较高,且有众多的珍稀物种,是一个重要的水鸟停歇地,应加强对该区域的保护。此外,本文提出在分析生物群落多样性时,应将分类因素与物种的数量因素综合起来考虑,因而同时使用G－F指数与Shannon-Wiener指数,可更为全面地评价某一地区的群落多样性。     

无人机调查白鹤种群数量和越冬分布

白鹤(Leucogeranus Leucogeranus)是国家Ⅰ级重点保护野生动物,唯一一种极度濒危(CR)鹤类,分布和种群数量是评估其濒危程度的重要参数。无人机调查作为目前生态学研究的一个重要调查方法,为查明白鹤的越冬分布、种群数量及幼鸟比例,于2022年1月使用地面监测结合无人机调查的方法在江西、山东、安徽、湖南、湖北等地的湖泊和农田中开展越冬白鹤调查。野外调查共记录白鹤5607只,网络信息检索在调查区域外的8个地点记录白鹤9只,合计记录越冬白鹤5616只。其中江西鄱阳湖记录到越冬白鹤4813只,占总数的85.7%,主要分布在康山垦殖场、五星垦殖场和成新垦殖场;山东黄河三角洲记录到越冬白鹤625只,占总数的11.1%。安徽、湖南、湖北分别记录到越冬白鹤34,63和72只。对部分群体的白鹤幼鸟数量进行统计,4680只白鹤中,记录到幼鸟674只,幼鸟比例为14.4%,其中湖南越冬白鹤幼鸟比例最高,达28.6%,山东越冬白鹤幼鸟比例最低,为11.5%。调查刷新了白鹤种群数量,证实了山东黄河三角洲是目前除江西鄱阳湖外最重要的白鹤越冬地,缓解了白鹤越冬期过度集中的压力。基于本研究结果,我们...     

河北衡水湖国家级自然保护区水鸟群落特征及其季节性变化

2020年5月—2021年4月,对河北衡水湖国家级自然保护区进行了水鸟调查,共记录水鸟82种,隶属于7目14科。其中,鹬科、鹭科和鸭科鸟类共同组成了该区域水鸟群落的优势类群,涉禽种类多、种群规模小,游禽种类少、种群规模大。豆雁、苍鹭、灰翅浮鸥等为自然保护区内水鸟群落的优势种。不同月份水鸟群落的物种丰富度、种群数量、物种多样性指数差异较大,其最大值分别出现在3—4、1和5月。总体上,衡水湖自然保护区水鸟物种丰富度维持较高水平,迁徙期水鸟物种丰富度和Shannon多样性指数更高,越冬期水鸟种群数量更大,7月水鸟物种丰富度最低、Pielou均匀度指数最高。迁徙期的水鸟群落相似度普遍较高,春季迁徙期鸻鹬类种数占比高,秋季迁徙期和越冬期雁鸭类种数占比高、种群数量大。此外,本次调查共记录国家重点保护水鸟18种,集中出现在越冬期及早春和晚秋。     

贵州草海的越冬鹤类

贵州威宁草海自然保护区是一个天然淡水湖泊,为我国鹤类的重要越冬地。在这里越冬的鹤类有黑颈鹤(Grus nigricollis)、白头鹤(Grus monacha)和灰鹤(Grus grus lilfordi)三种。现将有关研究及其数量消长规律概述如下。1灰鹤的研究在草海所见的三种鹤中,以灰鹤的发现最早(彭燕章等,1963)。王有辉(1986)和吴至康、王有辉(1986)对灰鹤的栖息条件、迁徙时间、生活习性、数量分布、食性、天敌、寄生羽虱,分别作了报道。嗣后,李若贤和李凤山1987年冬与1988年春,对草海灰鹤的越冬行为进行了研究。认为灰鹤在白天活动的时间分配比例是取食占49.7%,…     

辽宁发现白鹤等水鸟的重要迁徙停歇地

2005年秋季和2006年春季,辽宁环保志愿者联合会在沈阳市西北部的獾子洞水库发现有白鹤(Grusleucogeranus)、东方白鹳(Ciconia boyciana)、白头鹤(G.monacha)、白枕鹤(G.vipio)等大量水鸟迁徙停歇(见封4图片)。2006年4月7日,中国鸟类学会鹤类与水鸟专家组组长王岐山教授等会同世     

Identifying new buffer areas for conserving waterbirds in the Mediterranean basin: the importance of the rice fields in Extremadura,Spain

The impact of wetland loss on migratory waterbirds can be mitigated by the presence of anthropogenic habitats such as rice fields. In the Mediterranean basin, wetlands have been drained and altered to such a degree that their very existence is threatened. It is, therefore, essential to identify key buffer areas in the basin to develop conservation strategies for migratory waterbirds. In Extremadura, continental SW Spain, 30,000 ha of new rice fields have created since the 1960s. The present study describes for the first time the waterbird community associated with these inland rice fields, and addresses the question of the potential value of this area in buffering the loss of natural wetlands for populations of waterbirds using the East Atlantic Flyway (EAF). The waterbird community studied consisted of 45 species, with population levels reaching values of international importance (>1% of the biogeographical population using EAF) for the Common Crane Grus grus (19%), Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa (1.2%), Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus (1.2%), and Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis (1%). The presence of these rice fields may be modifying the wintering and/or feeding sites of some waterbird species such as the Common Crane and Black-tailed Godwit. Unfortunately, there is no legal protection for this area. We propose the designation of these rice fields as a Special Protection Area for birds.     

Long-term changes in numbers of geese stopping over and wintering in south-western Poland

South-western Poland belongs to the key staging areas for geese in Europe, supporting some 100000 birds in recent years. We compared goose counts conducted in the 1970s, 1990s and during 2009–2011 in this region, and linked the findings to the recent assessments of trends in the flyway-populations. Numbers increased several dozen times between the first two counts and have stabilized to the present. More than 14% of the flyway Tundra Bean Goose (Anser fabalis rossicus) stopped over in SW Poland on passage. Smaller numbers of White-fronted Goose (A. albifrons), Greylag Goose (A. anser), and four other rarer species, have all increased since the 1970s. The likely factors responsible for these changes are mild weather conditions, increased availability of large water bodies and shifts in winter ranges of particular species. Temporal mismatch between SW Poland and the total flyways in Bean and White-fronted Geese was recorded when we compared the long-term and the short-term population trends. Increasing reports of other species in SW Poland match the general tendencies in Europe. These data document that regional trends are not a simple reflection of those in flyways as a whole. To understand changes in goose populations a re-established international count network is desired.     

鄱阳湖都昌候鸟自然保护区丰水期和枯水期鸟类多样性

2009年12月和2010年5月,利用样线法和同步调查法对江西省鄱阳湖都昌候鸟自然保护区的鸟类开展了调查,分析了丰水期和枯水期鸟类群落结构的特征及其差异.野外调查共记录到鸟类14目43科169种.丰水期鸟类有36科96种,枯水期鸟类36科135种.其中,国家重点保护鸟类17种.结合保护区日常监测到白鹤(Grus leucogeranus)、灰鹤(G.grus)、白头鹤(G.monacha)和白枕鹤(G.vipio)的分布记录,该保护区鸟类累计达173种.保护区枯水期鸟类以雀形目、鹆形目和雁形目为主,分别占枯水期鸟类种类总数的47.4％、13.3％和9.6％;丰水期鸟类以雀形目、鸻形目和鹳形目为主,分别占鸟类种类总数的58.3％、8.3％和10.4％.枯水期和丰水期鸟类物种组成存在明显的季节性变换.枯水期农田生境鸟类多样性最高,其次是草洲、沼泽和水体,泥滩生境鸟类多样性最低;丰水期农田和水体生境鸟类多样性基本相同.都昌候鸟自然保护区枯水期的优势种为八哥(Acridotheres cristatellus)、白头鹎(Pycnonotus sinensis)、灰椋鸟(Sturnus cineraceus)、麻雀(Passer montanus)和山斑鸠(Streptopelia orientalis),丰水期为白鹭(Egretta garzetta)和八哥.     

Waterbird communities along the estuarine salinity gradient of the Schelde estuary, NW-Europe

The zonation of non-breeding waterbirds along the Schelde estuary (The Netherlands–Belgium), one of the longest estuaries in NW-Europe with still a complete salinity gradient, including a large freshwater tidal area, was described. Numbers of birds were counted monthly over the period October 1991 to June 1997. Highest numbers of waterbirds were observed in late autumn and winter, with annual peak numbers ranging between 150,000 and 235,000 individuals for the whole estuary. Based on a multivariate analysis different waterbird communities were observed along the salinity gradient. The polyhaline areas of the estuary were numerically dominated by the waders Oystercatcher and Dunlin. Due to the presence of a large brackish marsh in the mesohaline zone, the waterbird community in this area was dominated by the herbivores Wigeon and Greylag Goose. In the oligohaline and freshwater tidal areas, the waterbird community was dominated by duck species, with Teal and Mallard being the most important. The international importance of the Schelde estuary for waterbirds was evidenced by the fact that for 21 waterbird species the 1% level criterion, according to the Ramsar convention, was exceeded. The relation of the observed diversity and community patterns with the functional and habitat diversity of the Schelde estuary as well as the effect of recent conservation measures to preserve this habitat were discussed.     

东昆仑-阿尔金山地区黑颈鹤种群分布与秋季数量变化

黑颈鹤(Grus nigricollis)是青藏高原特有物种,在新疆主要分布在与青海、西藏相邻的阿尔金山、东昆仑山地区。2011年9～11月,对该地区黑颈鹤的分布、种群大小、数量变化、生存状况等进行了详细调查。在乌尊硝尔、铁木里克乡、玉素甫阿勒克、鸭子泉、阿达滩、祁曼塔格乡、吐拉牧场等25个样点,都观察到有黑颈鹤分布。利用样点调查法和直接计数法,重复调查164次,共记录到黑颈鹤158只。其中,在依协克帕提湿地(N37°15'～37°23',E90°11'～90°20',海拔3 903 m)最多一次记录到126只黑颈鹤集群。结合早期的科学考察记录,推测在整个东昆仑-阿尔金山地区共有黑颈鹤220～260只左右。黑颈鹤家庭成员数量为1～4只,4种类型的家庭所占比例分别为5.9%、60.3%、29.4%和4.4%。在10月份之前,主要以家庭为单位活动;10月中旬,开始大规模集群,10月29日集群数量达到最高峰,并开始迁徙;11月6日黑颈鹤全部迁徙离开。此外,还观察到有少量的灰鹤(G.grus)和蓑羽鹤(Anthropoides virgo)与黑颈鹤混居在一起。     

基于环志数据探讨兴凯湖水鸟的迁徙规律

黑龙江兴凯湖位于中俄交界,该地区水鸟的迁徙路线及其保护状况受到我国及相邻国家政府和保护组织的高度关注。我们整理了兴凯湖水鸟的环志回收数据,对水鸟的迁徙规律进行了分析。结果表明,从2010年至2019年兴凯湖共环志鹤鹳类和雁鸭类968只,回收记录共29只次,其中白枕鹤（Grus vipio）6只次、东方白鹳（Ciconia boyciana）8只次、斑嘴鸭（Anas poecilorhyncha）3只次、绿头鸭（A. platyrhynchos）3只次、琵嘴鸭（A. clypeata）7只次、凤头潜鸭（Aythya fuligula）1只次和豆雁（Anser fabalis）1只次。水鸟环志回收数据揭示了兴凯湖鹤鹳类和雁鸭类的主要迁徙规律,证实了兴凯湖作为东北亚水鸟迁徙廊道的重要性,为我国与相邻国家开展水鸟的联合保护提供科学依据。     

Wild hybrids of Lesser White-fronted Goose (Anser erythropus)×Greater White-fronted Goose (A. albifrons) (Aves: Anseriformes) from the European migratory flyway

The Lesser White-fronted Goose [Anser erythropus (Linnaeus, 1758)] is one of the most threatened Palearctic goose species, with the Fennoscandinavian subpopulation in particular having seen a drastic decline over the last century. In the 1990s, captive-bred Lesser White-fronted Geese were used successfully for reintroduction and restocking in Sweden and Finland. The discovery of Greater White-fronted Goose [Anser albifrons (Scopoli, 1769)] mtDNA haplotypes in some of these captive-bred birds (Ruokonen et al. 2000) suggested that hybridisation had occurred during captive propagation and led to the discontinuation of the release of captive goslings. Here we report two hybrids of Lesser×Greater White-fronted Geese that were collected on their wintering grounds in England in 1936 and Holland in 1966. Birds from western Russia normally do not migrate south to Western Europe. Hence, these birds most likely originated from the Fennoscandinavian subpopulation and were collected prior to the commencement of the captive-breeding programmes. Both specimens show a heterogeneous set of morphological characters, some of which shared with the putative parent species and others being intermediate between the two White-fronted Goose species. A Canonical Discriminant Function analysis positions both specimens between the two putative parent species, making their hybrid status likely. We show, thus, that hybridisation between Greater and Lesser White-fronted Geese does occur naturally, albeit perhaps infrequently, and argue that the presence of Greater White-fronted Goose mtDNA haplotypes in Lesser White-fronted Goose may be the result of this naturally occurring hybridisation. Our data provide additional information on the debate whether the restocking programmes were halted for the right reasons and whether it is desirable to re-commence with the reintroduction programme.     

内蒙古胡列也吐的鹤类及保护

胡列也吐位于内蒙古自治区呼伦贝尔盟陈巴尔虎旗境内 ,地理位置在东经 4 9°4 8′,北纬 1 1 8°2 7′ ,总面积为 4 0km2 。 1 998年笔者对本区的鹤类资源进行了为期一年的调查。本区共有 5种鹤栖息 ,本次共记录到 4种鹤计 78只。其中白头鹤 52只 ,丹顶鹤 1 1只 ,白枕鹤 4只 ,蓑羽鹤 1 1只。灰鹤在本区有分布 ,但本次调查未见。此外还记录到我国最大的白头鹤夏季集群。     

Dam effects on the wintering strategy and habitat use of Greylag Goose (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Anser anser</Emphasis>) in Ichkeul National Park,North Tunisia

The mosaic of habitats in the Ichkeul National Park is frequently changing due to the variations in water conditions that had influenced the wintering strategy of waterbird populations. To this point of view, field work on the wintering strategy of Greylag Geese in the Ichkeul National Park was realized during two consecutive winters (September 2001–March 2002 and September 2002–March 2003). Results showed that in this area, the Greylag Goose was a regular winter visitor, typically from the beginning of October to the end of March, when food resources were totally exhausted in all marshes. Records of diurnal time budget revealed that feeding (43%) and sleeping (20%) dominated all other activities: walking, flying alertness, and preening. The food resource depletion might be the principal responsible for the total population size decreases, the behavioral changes, and the switch of habitats used by the considered species. This situation is a kind of alarm bell to indicate a perturbation of the habitats in the Ichkeul National Park. Therefore, it is essential to use appropriate management strategies to enhance the value of this area for the bio-indicator species, in particular Greylag Goose which is very sensitive to habitat changes.     

Wild hybrids of Lesser White-fronted Goose (Anser erythropus)×Greater White-fronted Goose (A. albifrons) (Aves: Anseriformes) from the European migratory flyway

The Lesser White-fronted Goose [Anser erythropus (Linnaeus, 1758)] is one of the most threatened Palearctic goose species, with the Fennoscandinavian subpopulation in particular having seen a drastic decline over the last century. In the 1990s, captive-bred Lesser White-fronted Geese were used successfully for reintroduction and restocking in Sweden and Finland. The discovery of Greater White-fronted Goose [Anser albifrons (Scopoli, 1769)] mtDNA haplotypes in some of these captive-bred birds (Ruokonen et al. 2000) suggested that hybridisation had occurred during captive propagation and led to the discontinuation of the release of captive goslings. Here we report two hybrids of Lesser×Greater White-fronted Geese that were collected on their wintering grounds in England in 1936 and Holland in 1966. Birds from western Russia normally do not migrate south to Western Europe. Hence, these birds most likely originated from the Fennoscandinavian subpopulation and were collected prior to the commencement of the captive-breeding programmes. Both specimens show a heterogeneous set of morphological characters, some of which shared with the putative parent species and others being intermediate between the two White-fronted Goose species. A Canonical Discriminant Function analysis positions both specimens between the two putative parent species, making their hybrid status likely. We show, thus, that hybridisation between Greater and Lesser White-fronted Geese does occur naturally, albeit perhaps infrequently, and argue that the presence of Greater White-fronted Goose mtDNA haplotypes in Lesser White-fronted Goose may be the result of this naturally occurring hybridisation. Our data provide additional information on the debate whether the restocking programmes were halted for the right reasons and whether it is desirable to re-commence with the reintroduction programme.