Factors affecting the feeding distribution of red-breasted geese Branta ruficollis wintering in Romania

During late December 1990 and early January 1991 between 23 830 and 33 830 red-breasted geese Branta ruficollis were counted in the Dobrogea region of eastern Romania, which is probably the majority of the world population. They showed a strong preference for feeding on winter wheat. Sites where geese were observed feeding were more likely to be at lower altitude, on flatter ground, further away from human habitation, and closer to the roost than was typical of the area as a whole. The conservation of this species is discussed.