Rachel and Tweeters,

I am forwarding a message from Dr. Fred Cooke of Simon Fraser
University, B.C., about "Gray-bellied" Brant, which was sent to
TWEETERS a little over a year ago (Feb. 21, 2000). According to Dr.
Cooke, who has done research on Brant and other geese for many years,
the Gray-bellied form is currently listed as one of 4 populations of
the Atlantic Brant (Branta bernicla hrota). Dr. Cooke feels. however,
that the Gray-bellied form should be recognized as a distinct
subspecies, or perhaps even as a separate species. Watch for further
developments!

Wayne C. Weber
Kamloops, BC
contopus at home.com


----- Original Message -----
From: Dan Victor <dcv at scn.org>
To: Fred Cooke <fcooke at sfu.ca>
Cc: Tweeters (Cascadia) Birding Email <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Sent: Monday, February 21, 2000 11:16 AM
Subject: Gray-bellied Brant (fwd)


> \\\\-.___ /\___/\ ___.-////
> <_/ | O O | \_>
> |___V___|
> This message is being forwarded to Tweeters (by Dan Victor) because
the
> original sender is *not* subscribed. Please copy this email address
> with any responses : mailto:fcooke at sfu.ca
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> 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
>