Black brants were not always forced to travel so far to spend their winter months. Until the 1950's, the vast majority spent their winters between southern California and Puget Sound, with more than a third of the world's population wintering in California. Development and other disturbances pushed these birds further south, and in 1958, they were discovered in the lagoons of the Mexican mainland. The number of wintering birds in California plummeted over the next 10 years, crashing by 85%.
Fortunately, thousands of black brants still grace California's estuaries and coastal lagoons each Spring, when they take a much longer time in returning to cold, Arctic waters. Humboldt Bay is a critical stopover point along this Spring migration route, providing an abundant feast in the meadows of its favorite food source--eelgrass.
Humboldt Bay contains the largest concentration of eelgrass south of Washington and the third largest on the West Coast. It was primarily due to its significance to the black brant that the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge was established. However, like much of the brant's habitat, the eelgrass meadows that sustain the birds are still not protected from harm. Commercial oyster operations, dredging, and other human disturbances have eliminated large areas of eelgrass, having serious impacts and consequences on the species.
as the swiftest flying waterfowl and longest
living duck, swan or goose species.
Studies show a severe downward trend in the number of black brants since the 1960's, with three of four major colonies declining an average of 60% in the 1980's. These three colonies contain 80% of the world population of brant, making these declines exceedingly significant.
In addition to the elimination of eelgrass, black brants are most threatened by coastal development, oil spills, toxic pollution, hunting, and disturbance from aircraft during breeding and post-breeding periods. Brants also experience a high level of disturbance from boat traffic in Mexico, which scientists believe harms the physiological condition of pre-nesting birds and lowers their reproductive success.
EPIC is committed to protecting the black brant's important habitat in Humboldt Bay. We are monitoring potential development in South Bay, where eelgrass meadows are most intact, and working to stop the largest commercial oyster corporation from destroying eelgrass meadows throughout the northern portion of the bay (see next page). EPIC would also like to establish a local educational program that is part of a larger, international black brant monitoring project.
And as the summer slips into fall, we'll be lifting our eyes towards the sky and listening for the call of the wild black brant, anxiously awaiting its return to our shores in the Spring.
If you would like to contribute to EPIC's efforts to protect the black brant and its essential habitat in Humboldt Bay, please consider becoming a member or making a special gift to this project.
SPECIES PROFILE
Black Brant or Pacific Brant
Branta bernicla nigricans
Black brants mate for life and live up to 28 years, making it the longest living of any goose, duck, or swan species in North America. These social birds nest on islands and peninsulas in northwestern Canada, Alaska and eastern Arctic Russia in June, and require large tracts of undisturbed tundra wetlands to rear their young.
Birds that nest successfully begin flying south in September, while ones that don't nest or lose their clutches migrate to secluded areas in the high arctic. Nearly the entire world population stops at Izembek Lagoon on the western tip of the Alaskan Peninsula, eating as much eelgrass as possible before flying non-stop to Baja Mexico. The birds leave in February, and while a few go directly to their breeding grounds, most take their time and visit their favorite spots along the California, Oregon, and Washington coasts, returning in the last week of May.
Wing Span: 4 feet
Total Length: 2 feet
Weight (adults): 2.0 - 4.5 lbs.
Age at first breeding: 2-4 years
Oldest wild bird: 28.5 years
Max. flight speed: 62 mph
