PACIFIC BLACK BRANT

Branta bernicla nigrans

CLASS: Aves

ORDER: Anseriformes

FAMILY: Anatidae

DISTRIBUTION: Western North America and the Asian coast; breeds on the Alaskan and seberian coast in summer and winters on the Pacific coast.

HABITAT: Shoreline, seacoast.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS: Head, breast, and the back are dusky brown, sides are barred grey and white, white circular neck marking. Length l7", Wingspan 48", weight 2-3 lbs.

LONGEVITY: About 20 years.

SPECIAL ADAPTATIONS: Webbed feet to aid in swimming; the legs are located farther forward than ducks and swans which enables the Black Brant to travel well on land; the bill is flattened with tooth-like edges used for straining food out of the water; the presence of a salt gland helps to eliminate salt from the seawater they drink.

HABITS: Migratory birds that fly in long, wavy lines at speeds of 40-60 mph. Each flock has a leader. They occur in family units and pair for life.

REPRODUCTION: Sexually mature at 3 years; nests are made in a small hollow in the tundra, made out of grass and lined with down. There is an average of 3-4 dull white eggs per nest; incubation period lasts from 22-25 days. The male guards the nest and takes an active part in rearing the young. Pacific Black Brant will not renest if the first nest is destroyed.

POPULATION STATUS: Not endangered, about l40,000 on the West coast of the U.S. 45% Mortality rate during the first of the year of life.

DIET: Eelgrass, if this is scarce then they feed on rock grass and sea lettuce (algae).

NOTES OF INTEREST: Bernicla comes from the word "barnacle". People thought that this is bird hatched from a barnacle. The genus name Branta means "burnt" which was given to it because of the feathers which gives the bird a charred appearance. A common name for the Black Brant is burned goose. Also, the quality of the down is supposedly the same as that from the Eider duck.