Brant are Arctic-nesting geese. There are four distinct populations of Brant recognized in North America: Atlantic Brant, the Eastern High Arctic population, Black Brant, and the Western High Arctic population. The Atlantic Brant subspecies primarily nests on islands in the Canadian Eastern Low Arctic. The Eastern High Arctic Brant subspecies breeds on the islands of Canada's Eastern High Arctic, and migrate via Greenland and Iceland to winter in Ireland (Reed et al. 1998). Both Eastern populations have been variable in recent years but overall are showing decreasing population trends. Nesting of the Western High Arctic Brant population occurs on islands in the Western High Arctic, and wintering occurs mainly in Pudget Sound, Washington (Reed et al. 1998). Black Brant nest in the central and western Low Canadian Arctic, Alaska, and western Russia. This population winters along the Pacific coast, mainly in Mexico (Reed et al. 1998). Black Brant and the Western High Arctic populations are assessed by winter surveys. When surveying, it is difficult to distinguish the two types of Brant, and therefore it is difficult to estimate the size of each population separately. The combined population has shown a stable trend since the 1960s. In general, Brant numbers are considered to be acceptable. This species has been identified as a priority for conservation and/or stewardship in one or more Bird Conservation Region Strategies in Canada.
Brant are more vulnerable to sporadic heavy losses from starvation and periodic nesting failures than most other geese because of their strong dependence on specific plants for foraging and the harsh environments where some populations live. Among North America’s goose species, the Brant is the only species for which no population has begun using agricultural landscapes to any great extent: for the most part, the species’ is restricted to natural marine marshes. This means that the birds may not have been able to capitalize on the landscape features that are driving the exponential population growth of other goose species. Finally, these geese fly long distances in the spring and fall between breeding and wintering areas and are therefore subject to poor weather conditions during migration and an unknown hunting pressure at staging areas. Western High Arctic Brant are of particular management concern given their relatively small number, restricted winter distribution, and potentially unique subspecies status. They are also vulnerable to petroleum spills, especially given that the majority of geese overwinter in Padilla and Samish bays, adjacent to tankers and an oil refinery at Anacortes, Washington. Their comparative vulnerability requires careful regulation of hunting and monitoring of the status of populations (Reed et al. 1998). Protecting staging areas and wintering grounds, as well as limiting disturbance to Brant populations, are probably the most important actions that can be taken to protect Brant.
Environment and Climate Change Canada and partners have developed Bird Conservation Region Strategies in each of Canada’s Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs). In these strategies, selected species are identified as priorities for one or more of the following reasons:
Select any of the sub-regions below to view the BCR strategy for additional details.