Brant

Description:

The Black Brant or Pacific Brent Goose, Branta bernicla nigricans, is a sub-species of the Brent Goose that breeds in Alaska and winters in Baja California. There are an estimated 115,000 black brant in the world and about 14,000 are taken each year by hunters. Fox predation of eggs is thought to be significant and, in 2006, the U.S. began a 5-year fox removal program. The population has been as high as 200,000; in 1981, and as low as 100,000; in 1987.

Habitat:

Shallow coastal bays with eelgrass or other emergent vegetation.

Notes:

This species is migrating north several weeks earlier this year than normal.