Feature Article June 5, 2003
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Brant
One of the easily recognizable harbingers of spring is the V formation flight of our Canada Goose, and many of us stop and watch as they fly over. And of course, we know, too, that a few pairs of these birds will stop in our area and raise their goslings - to the dismay of golfers or people enjoying parks where they have left their calling cards.
But a close relative of the Canada Goose is the Brant and not too many of us are fortunate enough to see these birds as they fly north. Fred and Dianne Johnson from their home on Sharbot Lake were indeed privileged to see a huge flock of these birds on May 28, estimated at over 600 birds. These gregarious birds like to band together in large flocks and their migration usually occurs later than their cousins.
Brant (branta bernicla) are called saltwater birds, as during migration they favour both our east and west coasts, and during the winter will stay in various locations along the eastern or western seaboards. There is some controversy whether the western or Black Brant is a separate species from the eastern Brant, or whether it is a subspecies. Both have the black head and neck like the Canada Goose but without the white cheek patches, and are distinguishable from the Canada by the shorter neck, their calls and dark breasts. The Black Brant carries the darkness of the chest down on its belly without contrast between belly and breast. These birds in flight can be recognized by their lack of organized Vs, as they tend to fly in loose flocks or long, wavering lines. When on the water they seldom dive, but to avoid danger will swim rapidly away with stretched head and neck.
The Brant breeds across the northern Arctic, in an area extending from the Mackenzie Delta to Baffin Island. They nest in lowland, coastal tundra, preferring small islets in ponds and small lakes. Approximately half of the Brant breeding population nests in the Yukon-Kuskokwim delta, while the rest choose more northern regions in coastal Alaska, Siberia, and Canada. Four to eight greyish-white coloured eggs are laid in a depression on marshy ground. The nests are usually lined with down. Before being protected, Brant were a favourite game bird and thousands were shot every spring and fall during their migration. This constant persecution lead to a drastic decrease in population sizes.
Their favourite food is eel-grass found in tidal flats; in the early 1930s a disease wiped out 90% of this plant on the Atlantic and the European coasts, and as a result the population of Brant almost disappeared from the east. It is said that Innu people in eastern Quebec and Labrador have not seen any Apishtiss, as they call Brant, for many years and younger Innu have only heard stories from their elders about this species. Now years later, the Brant have recovered, but have not reestablished some of their former spring migration routes. Their fall migration routes are different from the spring - usually further to the west.
On the west coast the eel-grass was not hit by disease, and each spring the communities of Parksville and Qualicum Beach annually host the Brant Festival in April, welcoming the return of the Black Brant as thousands of birds set their wings, and descend on coastal beaches and flats to feed on the eel-grass.Observations: As noted above, a large flock of Brant on May 28, seen by Fred and Dianne Johnson, on the north shore of Sharbot Lake. Susan Wilkes, from Wolfe Lake, had a Scarlet Tanager on May 29. Share your sightings, call Jean Griffin, 268-2518.
