Brant - Photos by Bruce Dayton - Brant (Branta bernicla)

ORDER: Anseriformes
FAMILY: Anatidae (Ducks and Geese - 52 Species)
SUB-FAMILY: Anserinae
SPECIES: Brant (Branta bernicla)

Brant
In the 1930s disease and pesticides virtually wiped out eelgrass, a favorite food of the Brant, and numbers of this species declined sharply. The surviving Brant switched to the seaweed called sea lettuce. Eelgrass is abundant again in coastal bays, and the populations of Brant have risen steadily. Brant make one of the most spectacular migrations of all waterfowl, sometimes traveling as far as 7,000 miles.
SIZE	Small to medium size (22-26”) sea goose (about the size of a mallard).
DESCRIPTION	It similar to the Canada goose but smaller and shorter-necked. It has a black head, neck and chest with a patch of white on each side of the neck. Sexes are similar in appearance.
NESTING	Clutch size ranges from 3-5 eggs, which are incubated in 24 to 28 days. Nest is made in a shallow depression in the soil, the nest is lined with plant stems, feathers and down. It is maintained and improved throughout the season and down is added for insulation.
RANGE	The Brant breeds in northern coastal Alaska, the Tundra and coastal islands in the Arctic. The Brant mainly winters on the west coast of the U.S., but are seen more on the east coast
HABITAT	The Brant habitat shallow bays and coves, tidal creeks, and estuaries, wherever eelgrass and other marine grasses grow.
DIET	They feed on marine grasses, they prefer eelgrass as their principal food, but sea lettuce, sea cabbage, and salt marsh grass is also eaten.
Three subspecies of Brant are recognized
Brent Goose	1 Brent Goose (Branta bernicla bernicla) (AKA- Dark-bellied Brant)
Atlantic Brant	2 Atlantic Brant (Branta bernicla hrota) (AKA- Light-bellied Brant)
Pacific Brant	3 Pacific Brant - Branta bernicla nigricans (AKA- Black Brant)

INTERESTING FACTS

Taiga

The Taiga is the Russian word for forest and is the largest biome in the world. It stretches over Eurasia and North America. The taiga is located near the top of the world, just below the tundra biome. The winters in the taiga are very cold and the summers are warm, rainy, and humid. Coniferous trees make up most of the trees that grow in the taiga. The taiga is also known as the Boreal forest.

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The images on this web page are copyrighted © 2003 - 2007 by Bruce Dayton. I want to share my photos to promote conservation and to help people identify and learn about the birds and other creatures that live with us on the North American continent. Please do not use any of my work in any non-profit or for-profit project without first getting written permission from me. You can ask for permission by emailing me at webmaster@wildlifeofnorthamerica.info. All reproductions must bear an appropriate credit.




Brant

Stewart Park - Tompkins County Ithaca, New York


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Slate-coloured Junco Drawing by Louis Agassiz Fuertes