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This message is being forwarded to Tweeters (by Dan Victor) because the
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with any responses : mailto:fcooke at sfu.ca

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Date: Mon, 21 Feb 2000 10:54:01 -0800
From: Fred Cooke <fcooke at sfu.ca>

I'd like to alert tweeters to the issue of Gray-bellied
Brant. Many of you will know them as the wintering
population of that occurs at Padilla Bay. Scientific work
since 1990 has shown them to be distinctly different
genetically from the the Black Brant (Branta bernicla
nigricans) which also winters in the Pacific North-West.
Most recent scientific evidence shows that the Gray-bellied
race is one of 4 populations currently classified as Branta
bernicla hrota, (the same subspecific name as the Atlantic
Brant), but I'm sure it will soon be given sub-specific (or
even full species) status. The most IMPORTANT feature is
that this is one of the RAREST populations of geese in the
world. The world population is probably less than 7000
birds. It breeds in the Perry Islands in the North-west
corner of Arctic Canada, and almost the whole world
population winter in Skagit County Washington and now
increasingly in the Lower Mainland of BC. This population is
still hunted despite its rarity, and in fact hunting
practice in Washington favors the killing of this
sub-species rather than the commoner B.b.nigricans) which
has a world population of around 130,000.

This has become a conservation issue for some of us in BC
because in recent years Brant have increased as a winter
visitor in increasing numbers, with as many as 1000 birds
seen in Boundary Bay and Roberts Bank. MORE IMPORTANTLY, up
to 20% of the sightings of Brant are Gray-bellied (B.b.
hrota). I hope birders can start looking out for both
subspecies and recording them. Gray-bellies are usually
clearly gray bellied and have a distinct demarcation between
black chest and gray belly.

My own view is that in view of the rarity of this
population, we should be encouraging State and Federal
Agencies, to
a) manage these two subspecies separately, and
b) to take measure to ban or more severely restrict hunting
on the rarer subspecies.

Fred Cooke
Simon Fraser Univ.
fcooke at sfu.ca