How much do wild geese pollute the Old Lake of Tata with their droppings?

Wild geese nesting in the Eurasian tundras arrive in our region in the fall and return north in early spring. One of the most fascinating aspects of their migration is the nearly perfect V-formation they fly in, which can often be routinely observed this time. The number of wild geese wintering in the Carpathian Basin can exceed 400,000. Thanks to satellite-tagged birds, we have learned a great deal about their migratory routes.

The breeding area of the greater white-fronted goose (Anser albifrons) extends across almost the entire Arctic region of Eurasia. Different populations use different routes and winter in different parts of Central Europe. These geese can fly up to 7,000 kilometers from their Arctic breeding grounds to their wintering areas in Western or Central Europe. This journey, with several rest stops, can take nearly four months. Some populations migrate shorter distances, following the coastline to reach their wintering grounds in the Netherlands or Germany. During a single winter, they may travel multiple times between the Dutch coast and Central Europe, sometimes within just a few days.

The bean goose (Anser fabalis) breeds in the tundra and taiga zones of Eurasia. Birds reach Europe via two main routes: along the coasts and via an inland continental route. This has resulted in two major wintering areas, one in Western Europe and the other in the Carpathian Basin. Occasionally, there is significant movement and population shifts between these two centers.

In Hungary, wild geese primarily use about 18 major gathering sites as regular resting places. At prominent roosting sites such as the Old Lake in Tata, up to 40,000-60,000 birds can congregate. During mild winters, they remain in the area, but in extreme cold and snow, which makes finding food difficult, they migrate further south.

While they are here, people can enjoy watching their morning departure from the lake and their evening return.

Large flocks of wild geese also bring rare species to our county, such as the lesser white-fronted goose, the red-breasted goose, the Brant goose, the pink-footed goose and the barnacle goose. Spotting these species is always an exciting experience for birdwatchers.