Habitat selection and diet composition of Greylag Geese Anser anser and Barnacle Geese Branta leucopsis during fall and spring staging in relation to management in the tidal marshes of the Dollard

The tidal marshes of the Dollard have recently become an important staging area for Greylag Geese and Barnacle Geese. Part of the marshes were designated a nature reserve in 1981, which was followed by a decrease in management (abandoning of ditching and a change from high- to low-intensity cattle grazing). Other parts of the marshes are still being exploited by farmers and grazed more intensively. This paper presents data on habitat selection and diet composition of both Greylag and Barnacle Geese. The conclusion is that the significance of the marshes in the Dollard for geese is dependent on a continuation of a grazing management.