Brent goose
The brant or brent goose (Branta bernicla) is a small migratory goose of the genus Branta. The Brant and the similar Barnacle goose were previously considered one species, formerly believed to be the same creature as the crustacean. That myth can be dated back to at least the 12th century. Gerald of Wales claimed to have seen these birds hanging down from pieces of timber, William Turner accepted the theory, and John Gerard claimed to have seen the birds emerging from their shells. This myth arose because in the 1100s the migration of birds was unknown, but it was known that none of these birds was ever seen nesting, nor were eggs found, nor were goslings seen. The legend persisted until the end of the 18th century.
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DiurnalDiurnal animals are active during the daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. The timing of activity by an animal depends ...
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HerbivoreA herbivore is an animal anatomically and physiologically adapted to eating plant material, for example, foliage, for the main component of its die...
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CongregatoryCongregatory animals tend to gather in large numbers in specific areas as breeding colonies, for feeding, or for resting.
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OviparousOviparous animals are female animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive...
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PrecocialPrecocial species are those in which the young are relatively mature and mobile from the moment of birth or hatching. Precocial species are normall...
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WaterfowlWaterfowl are certain wildfowl of the order Anseriformes, especially members of the family Anatidae, which includes ducks, geese, and swans. They ...
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SemiaquaticSemiaquatic animals are those that are primarily or partly terrestrial but that spend a large amount of time swimming or otherwise occupied in wate...
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GrazingGrazing is a method of feeding in which a herbivore feeds on plants such as grasses, or other multicellular organisms such as algae. In agriculture...
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MonogamyMonogamy is a form of relationship in which both the male and the female has only one partner. This pair may cohabitate in an area or territory for...
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FlockingFlocking birds are those that tend to gather to forage or travel collectively. Avian flocks are typically associated with migration. Flocking also ...
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ColonialColonial animals live in large aggregations composed of two or more conspecific individuals in close association with or connected to, one another....
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MigratingAnimal migration is the relatively long-distance movement of individual animals, usually on a seasonal basis. It is the most common form of migrati...
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starts withThe Brant is a small goose with a short, stubby bill. Its under-tail is pure white, and the tail is black and very short (the shortest of any goose). The species is divided into three subspecies: the Dark-bellied brant goose, the Pale-bellied brant goose and the Black brant goose. The body of the Dark-bellied form is fairly uniformly dark grey-brown all over, the flanks and belly not significantly paler than the back. The head and neck are black, with a small white patch on either side of the neck. The Pale-bellied brant appears blackish-brown and light grey in colour. The body is different shades of grey-brown all over, the flanks and belly are significantly paler than the back and present a marked contrast. The head and neck are black, with a small white patch on either side of the neck. The Black brant goose appears blackish-brown and white in colour. This form is a very contrastingly black and white bird, with a uniformly dark sooty-brown back, similarly coloured underparts (with the dark colour extending the furthest back of the three forms) and a prominent white flank patch; it also has larger white neck patches, forming a near-complete collar.
Brant geese winter along temperate-zone sea-coasts and on the high-Arctic tundra. The Dark-bellied brant goose breeds on the Arctic coasts of central and western Siberia and winters in western Europe, with over half the population in southern England, and the rest between northern Germany and north-western France. The main population of the Pale-bellied brant goose breeds in northeastern Canada and winters along the Atlantic coast of the U.S. from Maine to Georgia. Other smaller population breeds in Franz Josef Land, Svalbard, and northeastern Greenland and winters in Denmark, northeast England, and Scotland, and the other breeds in the far-northeastern Canadian islands and winters in Ireland, southwest England, and in a small but significant area, le Havre de Regnéville, centered on the Sienne Estuary in Manche (Northern France). In Ireland, it is recorded in winter from a number of areas including Lough Foyle, Strangford Lough, Tralee Bay, and Castlemaine Harbour. The Black brant goose breeds in northwestern Canada, Alaska, and eastern Siberia, and winters mostly on the west coast of North America from southern Alaska to California, but also some in east Asia, mainly Japan, also Korea, and China. Brant geese were strictly coastal birds in winter, rarely leaving tidal estuaries but in recent decades, they have started using agricultural land a short distance inland. In the breeding season, the birds use low-lying wet coastal tundra for both breeding and feeding.
Brant geese when wintering generally remain in loose family groups, together with others of the same sub-species, but there is overlap in some areas; and this is also true in the breeding colonies. Outside the breeding season, individuals with characteristics of any subspecies may occasionally turn up with regular migrants. Brant geese are diurnal birds that spend most of their days foraging. They feed in large flocks both swimming in shallow water or on land. At night they roost in groups preferring sheltered bays and coastal water.
Brant geese are herbivores. They feed on eelgrass, seaweed, and sea lettuce. In agricultural land, they eat grass and winter-sown cereals.
Brant geese are monogamous and form pairs for life. A mated pair usually travels together to the breeding grounds. Brant geese start nesting in June and pairs may nest singly or in colonies. The nest is bowl-shaped, lined with grass and down, in an elevated location, often near a small pond. The female usually lays 3 to 5 eggs and incubates them for about 24-26 days. During this period the male always remains in the close vicinity. When the goslings hatch they are covered in down and leave the nest soon after hatching. They fledge around 6 weeks after and remain in family groups until the following breeding period. Brant geese become reproductively mature when they are between 2 and 3 years old.
Brant geese are not considered threatened at present. However, they suffer from persecution by farmers, disturbances, the lack of food resources, and changes in climate.
According to IUCN Red List, the total population size of the Brant is 490,000 mature individuals. The European population consists of 1,500-1,800 pairs, which equates to 3,000-3,600 mature individuals. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List.
Social animals are those animals that interact highly with other animals, usually of their own species (conspecifics), to the point of having a rec...