Every spring when the Lesser White-fronted Goose arrives at the Valdak Marshes, the researchers from "Project Lesser White-fronted Goose" are present to study the birds. From a natural vantage point above the marshes, the birds can be studied by use of telescope.
In an early stage of the project it was realized that the black pattern in the belly varied between individual birds. These belly patterns functions as a finger print and makes it possible to identify Lesser White-fronted Goose individuals. The researchers spend much time drawing each bird, and by this they can identify exactly when each bird arrive, who's in pairs, and how many birds that use the marshes during spring staging.
In the same way the birds are studied during autumn when they arrive after ended breeding season. It is by then exiting to see how any goslings that have been produced during summer.
