The Atlantic Brant bernicla 2016 of the Year 2016 Bird of the

In the late fall, New ’s coastal of the Canada . refuse to take them after the midpoint waters are invaded by flocks of a Brant are considered to have two of the season due to their winter diet. small sea goose. Someone who is subspecies in , The Some will closely examine the under- neither birder nor waterfowler might Atlantic and the Pacific, or black, side of the day’s first brant, claiming mistake the brant for Canada geese, brant. The black brant sports much that a greenish tinge near the rectum since they share the same basic colors. darker plumage on its belly than does will indicate the bird has been feeding Upon closer observation, differences its Atlantic Flyway cousin. on . If the tinge is brownish in plumage will be obvious. The Brant at one time fed almost or absent, the brant is believed to have Canada’s white cheek patch is re- exclusively on an aquatic plant called been feeding on foods that will make placed on the brant by a ring of small eelgrass. During the early 1930s a it more fit to eat. white bars circling the neck. The blight decimated eelgrass beds along Eating qualities aside, brant can brant also has a shorter neck and bill the Atlantic coast, causing brant offer one of the more exciting experi- than its larger cousin. There are populations to plummet. Brant have ences for the waterfowler, often differences in flight as well. Brant since made a comeback, due to the decoying in large flocks that are have a faster wingbeat and fly in partial recovery of eelgrass and also rivaled only by snow and Canada much looser, wavering formations. by switching to other foods, such as geese, giving the hunter a taste of Most hunters can ID them at long sea lettuce. However, by most what the market gunners of old might distances by their flight pattern alone. accounts, a diet of sea lettuce has have once experienced. And lastly, the soft, rolling call of the caused brant to often become much brant is very unlike the distinct honk poorer table fare. Many hunters even

6 OCEAN COUNTY DECOY & GUNNING SHOW