International Brant Monitoring Project
Observation Logs:

2003/2004 Observations

Date Location Observers Count Percent Juveniles Notes
Oct 28 Izembek Lagoon, AK Izembek National Wildlife Refuge 500+ N/A 1
Nov 18 Padilla Bay, WA Bay View School N/A N/A 2
Nov 20 Morro Bay, CA John Roser 2200 N/A 3
Nov 25 Padilla Bay, WA Bay View School 3 N/A 4
Nov 25 Padilla Bay, WA Bay View School 3 N/A 5
Dec 2 Padilla Bay, WA Bay View School 25 N/A 6
Nov 15 San Quintin Bay, Baja Cal. SANQUIBRANTA 1250 N/A 7
Nov 15 San Quintin Bay, Baja Cal. SANQUIBRANTA 1250 N/A 8
Dec 9 Delta, B.C. Richard Swanston 176 N/A 9
Dec 11 OTHER OTHER 2 N/A 10
Dec 18 Morro Bay, CA John Roser 2840 N/A 11
Dec 16 Padilla Bay, WA Bay View School 10 N/A 12
Dec 16 Padilla Bay, WA Bay View School 10 N/A 13
Dec 19 OTHER OTHER 250 18.4% 14
Dec 20 OTHER OTHER 3 N/A 15
Dec 22 Delta, B.C. Richard Swanston 120 N/A 16
Jan 13 Padilla Bay, WA Bay View School 300 N/A 17
Jan 12 Morro Bay, CA John Roser 4000 N/A 18
Dec 31 Izembek Lagoon, AK Izembek National Wildlife Refuge 2820 N/A 19
Nov 4 San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja California Sur GELSI 10 N/A 20
Nov 18 OTHER OTHER 4720 N/A 21
Nov 25 San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja California Sur GELSI 0 N/A 22
Dec 2 San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja California Sur GELSI 1637 N/A 23
Jan 20 Delta, B.C. Richard Swanston 116 21 24
Dec 4 San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja California Sur GELSI 1748 N/A 25
Dec 6 San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja Cal. Sanquibrantas 5000+ N/A 26
Jan 20 Padilla Bay, WA Bay View School 112 N/A 27
Jan 20 Padilla Bay, WA Bay View School 112 N/A 28
Feb 3 Padilla Bay, WA Bay View School 537 N/A 29
Dec 11 OTHER OTHER 1017 N/A 30
Dec 18 OTHER OTHER 255 N/A 31
Jan 21 OTHER OTHER 1243 N/A 32
Feb 3 Delta, B.C. Richard Swanston 4 N/A 33
Feb 8 Delta, B.C. Richard Swanston N/A N/A 34
Feb 9 OTHER OTHER 605 N/A 35
Feb 17 test Location test Name 0 N/A 36
Feb 10 Padilla Bay, WA Bay View School 86 N/A 37
Feb 17 Padilla Bay, WA Bay View School 202 N/A 38
Feb 24 Padilla Bay, WA Bay View School 180 N/A 39
Feb 20 Delta, B.C. Richard Swanston 168 7.14 40
Mar 2 Padilla Bay, WA Bay View School 678 N/A 41
Mar 9 Padilla Bay, WA Bay View School 0 N/A 42
Mar 16 Padilla Bay, WA Bay View School 262 N/A 43
Mar 23 Padilla Bay, WA Bay View School 400 N/A 44
Mar 30 Padilla Bay, WA Bay View School 1500+ N/A 45
Apr 2 Coos Bay, OR South Slough NERR 95 N/A 46
Apr 15 San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja California Sur GELSI 1280 N/A 47
Feb 29 San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja California Sur GELSI 374 N/A 48
Mar 8 San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja California Sur GELSI 574 N/A 49
Mar 29 San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja California Sur GELSI 66 N/A 50
Mar 31 San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja California Sur GELSI 147 N/A 51
Apr 1 San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja California Sur GELSI 361 N/A 52
Apr 13 Padilla Bay, WA Bay View School 2,000 N/A 53
Apr 21 Izembek Lagoon, AK Izembek National Wildlife Refuge 1000s N/A 54
Apr 16 Delta, B.C. Richard Swanston 2693 18.6 55


Notes:

1 At least 4 flocks of brant (100-150 birds/flock) left Izembek Lagoon during the day and headed south on October 26. It is unknown how many birds departed on this day. After checking three different ground locations on October 27, it was decided that most of the brant were still at Izembek Lagoon (more than 50,000 brant were observed from these ground locations). Because we are currently without a pilot, we were unable to determine what percentage of the staging brant had left. The brant were exhibiting migratory restless, calling noisily and flying around in swirling flocks. However, the wind is switching to the southeast (they normally depart on a northeast wind), so we do not expect any more departures for several days.Nov 11

2 (Traduction a espanol abajo)
Dear fellow brant researchers:

We are 8th grade students that attend Bayview School in Burlington, WA. We live 4 miles from Padilla Bay where some brant geese arrive from the Arctic in late fall to spend the winter and others stop to rest during their migration from Mexico in the spring. We are hoping to see the Brant on our field trips to the bay and maybe we will find some with leg bands so we can help track them. Maybe the brant have been where you live.

Brant geese are amazing birds! They travel long distances, even 3,000 miles in 2 days straight, to find the right habitat for breeding, nesting, and wintering. Brant are very social birds and keep the same mate for life. These geese have an average lifespan of 8 to 10 years, and may live to be 20-25 years if they are lucky. Predators of brant include eagles, gulls, and foxes. Two varieties of brant are the black brant with a population of over 130,000 and the pale-bellied brant with a population of around 7,000 birds.

In Padilla Bay, pale-bellied brant spend the winter because they can find plenty of eelgrass to eat. We have the largest eelgrass bed in the state of Washington! We are studying brant with the help of Ms. Sloan from Padilla Bay Reserve. On our field trips, the weather may be cold and rainy during the winter and more moderate but still rainy in the spring. Recently, two nearby rivers rose to flood stage over farmland and in the nearby cities. Temperatures have been dropping and we are expecting the brant to arrive soon.

We enjoy living near where the brant like to live because we can observe them. We are very excited about learning new things about these geese. We can commit to this project just as we do to others. As the oldest students, our class is very involved in our school and we participate in many extracurricular activities. Many people in our class are active in sports like football, basketball, soccer, and volleyball. We are also active in music and serve in school leadership. We hope you have a fun time doing the Brant Project too!

Happy branting!
The 8th graders at Bayview School


Querido projimo investigadores,

Somos estudiantes de grado octavo que asisten la Escuela de Bayview en Burlington, Washington. Vivimos cuatro millas de la Bahia de Padilla donde algunas de los gansos brantas llegan del Artico en tarde caida para pasar el invierno, y otras descanso durante su migracion de Mexico en la primavera. Esperamos ver las brantas en nuestro viajes estudio y quiza nosotros encontraremos algunas con bandas de pierna tan nosotros podemos ayudar el vistigio ellas. Quiza las brantas ha sido donde usted viven.

Las brantas son pajaros asombrosas! Ellas viajen las distancias largas, aun 3,000 millas en dos o tres dias rectos, para encontrar el habitat correcto para criar, para anidar, y para pasar el invierno. Las brantas son muchas sociales y seguir siendo a su companero para vida. Estos gansos tienen una vida media de 8 o 10 anos, y pueden vivir 20 o 25 anos si ellos tienen suerte. Animales de rapina de las brantas incluso las aguilas, las gaviotas, y los zorros. Dos variedades de las brantas son las brantas negras con una poblacion de sobre 130,000 y las brantas de panzudo palido con una poblacion de alrededor 7,000 pajaros.

En la Bahia de Padilla, las brantas de panzudo palido pasan el invierno porque ellos pueden econtrar la abundancia de pasto marino para comer. Tenemos la cama mas grande de pasto marino en el estado de Washington. Estudiamos las brantas con las ayuda de Sra. Sloan de la Reserva de la Bahia de Padilla. En nuestro viajes de estudio, puede hacer frio y lluvioso durante el invierno y mas modero pero todavia lluvioso en las primavera. Recientemente, dos rios cercanos crecido para inundar sobre las tierras de labrantio y ciudades cercanas. Las temperaturas han estado dejando caer y esperamos que las brantas llegue pronto.

Gozamos vivir cerca de donde las brantas como vive porque nosotros los podemos observar. Somos emocionados a aprendar las cosas nuevas a cerca de los gansos. Podemos cometer a este proyecto asi como nosotros hacemos a otros. Cuando los estudiantes mas viejos, nuestra clase se implica muy en nuestra escuela y nosotros tomamos parte en muchas actividades fuera del programa de estudios. Pueda a personas en muesra clase son activo en deportivo tal como el futbol, el baloncesto, el futbol, y el voleibol. Somos tambien activos en las musica y servimos en la direccion de la escuela. Esperamos que usted tenga un tiempo divertido que hace el proyecto de las brantas tambien!

Happy branting! (o Branting feliz!)
El alumnos del grado octavo en la Escuela de Bayview

3 The first group of brant arrived November 1st, and groups have continued to arrive. By November 13th, 450 brant occupied Morro Bay. By November 16th, (after the largest departure from Izembek Lagoon) 1,600 more brant arrived to bring the count to 2,050. For a small bay, this was a very significant increase. On November 20, the total brant count was 2,200.

4 (Traduction a espanol abajo)

The first place we went was to the Swinomish Channel. We arrived at 11:20. The tide was 7.5 feet, flowing out. At 11:57, we had a low tide of 7.0 feet. It was windy, sunny, and very cold. We saw three flying brant, plus hawks, seagulls, and more than 1,000 ducks. Human activity included a coastguard boat and a work boat with a guy dancing.

The second place we went was Camp Kirby. We arrived at 12:35 and the tide was flowing in. We didn’t see any brant there but we did see a blue heron, a hawk, and a double-crested cormorant. The only other person we saw was a lady walking a dog.

The last place we went was North Samish Island, and we arrived there at 1:15 p.m. We didn’t see any brant here but we did see a hawk, seagulls, bufflehead, common goldeneye, surf scoter, Pacific Loon, and an American coot. Some human activity in the area was a mailman, a boy singing on a swing and a guy on a loud tractor.

Courtney Klop, Josh Lott, Jacob Small
(Translation to Spanish below)

El primero lugar que fuimos estaba al Canal de Swinomish. Llegamos alli en 11:20. La altura de la marea era 7.5 pies, fluyendo fuera. En 11:57, nosotros tuvimos una bajamar de 7.0 pies. Era ventoso, soleado, y muy frio. Vimos tres brant volador, mas un halcon de cola roja, las gaviotas, y mas de 1,000 patos. Los actividad humana incluyo un barco de guardacostas, y un barco de trabajo y un baile de hombre.


El segundo lugar que fuimos estaba al campo de Kirby. Llegamos alli en 12:35 y la marea era fluyendo en. Nosotros no vimos cualquier brantas alli pero hicimos se una garza azul, un halcon, y un cormoran de cresta doble. La unico otra persona que vimos era una dama que anda un perro.

El final lugar que fuimos estaba en el Norte del Isla de Samish y llegamos alli en 1:15 p.m. No vimos cualquier brantas aqui pero hicimos se un halcon, las gaviotas, varios, Bucephala albeola, ojo doroado comun, varios Melanitta perspicillata, un somorgujo Pacifico, y un fulico Americano. Alguna actividad humana en el area era un cartero, un chico que canta en un columpio y un hombre en un tractor fuerte.

5 (Traduction a espanol abajo)

The first place we went was to the Swinomish Channel. We arrived at 11:20. The tide was 7.5 feet, flowing out. At 11:57, we had a low tide of 7.0 feet. It was windy, sunny, and very cold. We saw three flying brant, plus hawks, seagulls, and more than 1,000 ducks. Human activity included a coastguard boat and a work boat with a guy dancing.

The second place we went was Camp Kirby. We arrived at 12:35 and the tide was flowing in. We didn’t see any brant there but we did see a blue heron, a hawk, and a double-crested cormorant. The only other person we saw was a lady walking a dog.

The last place we went was North Samish Island, and we arrived there at 1:15 p.m. We didn’t see any brant here but we did see a hawk, seagulls, bufflehead, common goldeneye, surf scoter, Pacific Loon, and an American coot. Some human activity in the area was a mailman, a boy singing on a swing and a guy on a loud tractor.

Courtney Klop, Josh Lott, Jacob Small
(Translation to Spanish below)

El primero lugar que fuimos estaba al Canal de Swinomish. Llegamos alli en 11:20. La altura de la marea era 7.5 pies, fluyendo fuera. En 11:57, nosotros tuvimos una bajamar de 7.0 pies. Era ventoso, soleado, y muy frio. Vimos tres brant volador, mas un halcon de cola roja, las gaviotas, y mas de 1,000 patos. Los actividad humana incluyo un barco de guardacostas, y un barco de trabajo y un baile de hombre.


El segundo lugar que fuimos estaba al campo de Kirby. Llegamos alli en 12:35 y la marea era fluyendo en. Nosotros no vimos cualquier brantas alli pero hicimos se una garza azul, un halcon, y un cormoran de cresta doble. La unico otra persona que vimos era una dama que anda un perro.

El final lugar que fuimos estaba en el Norte del Isla de Samish y llegamos alli en 1:15 p.m. No vimos cualquier brantas aqui pero hicimos se un halcon, las gaviotas, varios, Bucephala albeola, ojo doroado comun, varios Melanitta perspicillata, un somorgujo Pacifico, y un fulico Americano. Alguna actividad humana en el area era un cartero, un chico que canta en un columpio y un hombre en un tractor fuerte.

6 (Traduction a espanol de bajo)

At 11:30 at Camp Kirby, the tide was coming in. We didn’t see any brant, only some seagulls. It was so windy that the teacher accidentally lost the map in the water! At 12:30 on North Samish Island, the tide was high at nine feet. We didn’t see any brant but we saw many other birds such as bufflehead, many seagulls, a grebe, a coot, a heron, a hawk, two eagles and a flock of ducks. The mail man and one visitor were the only people we saw. Alongside the road, we saw 3 blue herons. We arrived at the Swinomish channel at 2:00. We saw over 1000 mallard ducks and we were excited to see 25 brant.

Manny Chavez, Amanda Fisher, Trevor Wickman

(Translation to Spanish below)

A 11:30 en el Campo de Kirby, la marea era fluyendo en. No vimos cualquier brant, sólo algunas gaviotas. ¡Era tan ventoso que la maestra accidentalmente perdió el mapa en el agua! A las 12:30 en el Norte del Isla de Samish, la marea era alta a nueve pies. No vimos cualquier brant pero vimos muchos otros pájaros tales como bufflehead (Bucephala albeola), muchas gaviotas, un colimbo, un coot, una garza, un halcón, dos águilas y una multitud de patos. El cartero y un visitante eran las únicas personas que vimos. Al lado de la calle, nosotros vimos 3 garzas azules. Llegamos en el canal de Swinomish a 2:00. Vimos mas de 1000 patos silvestres y nosotros fuimos entusiasmado a ver 25 brant.

7 19 members of the “Sanquibrantas” group went to the bay of San Quintín on Saturday 15th, at 10:00 am, leaded bay our teacher Gabriel Medina.
During the trip we saw an eastern curlew, with a very long and thin beak. We arrive to Panteón Inglés (English Pantheon) and we did not find any brant. Then we went to a near beach, and there we found about 50 brants, but when they saw us, they fly away and didn´t come back in about one hour. This time they were about 400. We also saw about 10 brown pelicans y some litltle, black birds (about 80). There were many sea gulls, some of them were little (about 6 inches tall) and some were bigger (about 12 inches tall).
When we saw them, they were floating on the water and some went to the shore to eat. When the tide goes out (on the morning or on the evening), they eat eelgrass on the bay's shore.
The brants were black witn a white ring around neck (about 1.5 centimeters wide). They weigth about 1 kilogram, because they have traveled a long distance from Alaska. When they were in Alaska, they weighed around 2 kilograms. They fly on groups, and we have never seen one of them alone.
We try to know the place where the brants live, and we found some of their food, eelgrass, an some feathers.
After a while, we went to the Molino Viejo (Old Mill) Restaurant to drink some softdrinks and to see if we could find more brants or another kind of birds. In that restaurant we saw a stuffed brant. It looks like an adult, because it was big and the ring around its neck was wide.
With this we concluded our journey at 1:30 P.M. and get back to Escuela Secundaria # 85.

8 19 members of the “Sanquibrantas” group went to the bay of San Quintín on Saturday 15th, at 10:00 am, leaded bay our teacher Gabriel Medina.
During the trip we saw an eastern curlew, with a very long and thin beak. We arrive to Panteón Inglés (English Pantheon) and we did not find any brant. Then we went to a near beach, and there we found about 50 brants, but when they saw us, they fly away and didn´t come back in about one hour. This time they were about 400. We also saw about 10 brown pelicans y some litltle, black birds (about 80). There were many sea gulls, some of them were little (about 6 inches tall) and some were bigger (about 12 inches tall).
When we saw them, they were floating on the water and some went to the shore to eat. When the tide goes out (on the morning or on the evening), they eat eelgrass on the bay's shore.
The brants were black witn a white ring around neck (about 1.5 centimeters wide). They weigth about 1 kilogram, because they have traveled a long distance from Alaska. When they were in Alaska, they weighed around 2 kilograms. They fly on groups, and we have never seen one of them alone.
We try to know the place where the brants live, and we found some of their food, eelgrass, an some feathers.
After a while, we went to the Molino Viejo (Old Mill) Restaurant to drink some softdrinks and to see if we could find more brants or another kind of birds. In that restaurant we saw a stuffed brant. It looks like an adult, because it was big and the ring around its neck was wide.
With this we concluded our journey at 1:30 P.M. and get back to Escuela Secundaria # 85.

9 Richard Swanston has been on vacation so December 9, 2003 was his first opportunity to look for brant this year. At the Pump House Boundary Bay Regional Park, Delta B.C. Canada conditions were perfect with east winds at 12 knots and partly cloudy sky and a falling tide. There were two houses with construction work in progress but with the wind from the east, the noise was pushed away, thankfully. The total number of brant counted was ONLY 176. At least 28 were grey bellies. 73 brant were observed for bands but none were seen. A Bald Eagle flew over and almost all brant left the area but in a few minutes later 3 brant circled around. They were seen nipping each other in flight. Soon there were 9 brant flying together but when another bald eagle passed over and the brant flushed but soon returned.

10 Guy L. Monty has recently seen a juvenile grey belly brant and an adult black brant spending time eating grass on the local soccer field in Parksville BC, Canada. Parksville is on the east side of Vancouver Island. They usually don’t see brant there until February or March when brant from Mexico stop on their way north. Guy writes, “Seeing a Brant nibbling grass on a ball field just doesn't look right.” This behavior of eating grass on land has been common for Atlantic brant wintering on the east coast of the U.S. since the 1930s when a desease killed a lot of eelgrass. Unfortunately, neither bird has a band.

11 In Morro Bay, California our brant total on 12/18 was 2,840. This is slightly lower than this time of year in the last three seasons, but close.

John Roser

12 (Traduction a espanol abajo)

Just after high tide (9.1 feet), we arrived at Camp Kirby, which lies on a peninsula of southwest Samish Island. There were very high winds and the surf sprayed our faces. We picked up some beach litter as we looked for birds. We were unsuccessful in our search, but we did find the water was very muddy and a lot of eelgrass had washed up on shore. (Padilla Bay is a shallow bay with 7,000-8,000 acres of eelgrass and a lot of mudflat…the high winds stir up the mud and break off the eelgrass and blow it to shore).

At noon, we arrived at North Samish Island. The weather was only windy at first, but eventually it started to rain. The birds we saw were seagulls, surf scoters, a Northern harrier, and two Pacific Loon. There were no brant here and the main disturbances were some noisy airplanes.

At the dike near the Swinomish Channel at 1:30, the weather was cold, windy, and it was slightly sprinkling. As the tide was going out, we saw lots of eelgrass and 10 pale-bellied brant. The brant were in a flock of mallard ducks and they were difficult to distinguish. We also saw 3 Great Blue Herons, several thousand mallard, 6 eagles, and a hawk. Disturbances included planes and a train. We learned that eagles are predators of the brant, so the eagles were most likely a disturbance too.

Kelsie Ovenell, Tara Thomas, Andrew Jansen, Kyle Bartholemew
(Translation to Spanish below)

Apenas después de pleamar (9.1 pies), llegamos alli en el Campo Kirby, que yace en una penisula en el noroeste de la Isla de Samish. Había vientos muy altos y oleaje roció nuestras caras. Recogimos alguna basura sobre la playa como buscamos pájaros. Eramos fracasados en nuestra búsqueda, pero encontramos que el agua era muy fangosa y mucho pasto marino era arrojada a la playa. (La Bahía de Padilla es una bahía poco profunda con 7,000-8,000 acres de pasto marino y mucha marisma…los vientos altos revuelven el barro y rompe el pasto marino y lo soplan a la costa).

A las mediodia, llegamos alli en la norte de as Isla de Samish. Era sólo ventoso al principio, pero eventualmente empezó a llover. Los pájaros que nosotros vimos eran gaviotas, surf scoters (Melanitta perspicillata), un especie de halcon septentrional, y dos somorgujos de Pacifico. No había brantas aquí y los alborotos principales eran algunos aviones ruidosos.

En el dique cerca del Canal de Swinomish a las uno y media, hacía frío, ventoso, y rociaba levemente. Cuando la marea salía, vimos mucho pasto marino y 10 brantas de pazudo palido. Las brantas era en una multitud de patos y ellos eran difícil de distinguir. Vimos también 3 Gran Garzas Azules, muchos mil lavanco, 6 águilas, y un halcon. Los alborotos incluyeron los aviones y un tren. Aprendimos que águilas son animales de rapiña del brant, así que las águilas eran muy probables un alboroto también.

13 (Traduction a espanol abajo)

Just after high tide (9.1 feet), we arrived at Camp Kirby, which lies on a peninsula of southwest Samish Island. There were very high winds and the surf sprayed our faces. We picked up some beach litter as we looked for birds. We were unsuccessful in our search, but we did find the water was very muddy and a lot of eelgrass had washed up on shore. (Padilla Bay is a shallow bay with 7,000-8,000 acres of eelgrass and a lot of mudflat…the high winds stir up the mud and break off the eelgrass and blow it to shore).

At noon, we arrived at North Samish Island. The weather was only windy at first, but eventually it started to rain. The birds we saw were seagulls, surf scoters, a Northern harrier, and two Pacific Loon. There were no brant here and the main disturbances were some noisy airplanes.

At the dike near the Swinomish Channel at 1:30, the weather was cold, windy, and it was slightly sprinkling. As the tide was going out, we saw lots of eelgrass and 10 pale-bellied brant. The brant were in a flock of mallard ducks and they were difficult to distinguish. We also saw 3 Great Blue Herons, several thousand mallard, 6 eagles, and a hawk. Disturbances included planes and a train. We learned that eagles are predators of the brant, so the eagles were most likely a disturbance too.

Kelsie Ovenell, Tara Thomas, Andrew Jansen, Kyle Bartholemew
(Translation to Spanish below)

Apenas después de pleamar (9.1 pies), llegamos alli en el Campo Kirby, que yace en una penisula en el noroeste de la Isla de Samish. Había vientos muy altos y oleaje roció nuestras caras. Recogimos alguna basura sobre la playa como buscamos pájaros. Eramos fracasados en nuestra búsqueda, pero encontramos que el agua era muy fangosa y mucho pasto marino era arrojada a la playa. (La Bahía de Padilla es una bahía poco profunda con 7,000-8,000 acres de pasto marino y mucha marisma…los vientos altos revuelven el barro y rompe el pasto marino y lo soplan a la costa).

A las mediodia, llegamos alli en la norte de as Isla de Samish. Era sólo ventoso al principio, pero eventualmente empezó a llover. Los pájaros que nosotros vimos eran gaviotas, surf scoters (Melanitta perspicillata), un especie de halcon septentrional, y dos somorgujos de Pacifico. No había brantas aquí y los alborotos principales eran algunos aviones ruidosos.

En el dique cerca del Canal de Swinomish a las uno y media, hacía frío, ventoso, y rociaba levemente. Cuando la marea salía, vimos mucho pasto marino y 10 brantas de pazudo palido. Las brantas era en una multitud de patos tan y ellos eran difícil de distinguir. Vimos también 3 Gran Garzas Azules, muchos mil lavanco, 6 águilas, y un halcon. Los alborotos incluyeron los aviones y un tren. Aprendimos que águilas son animales de rapiña del brant, así que las águilas eran muy probables un alboroto también.

14 In the northwest corner of Boundary Bay within the Boundary Bay Provincial Park (near Beach Grove), we observed a group of 250 brant between 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. as the tide was coming in. The percentage of junveniles was around 18.4% and we believe all birds were black brant as we did not positively identify any gray-bellied brant. It was a clear, cold morning and we watched several brant fly in from the east to add to the group. How amazing to watch them munch on eelgrass and to be close enough to hear them talk amongst themselves. Throughout the morning, several aircraft and an eagle disturbed the group and caused many to take flight, but gradually, all settled down on the water once again.

Glen Alexander, Jonna Sloan

15 Tim Rodenkirk (scientist with the Bureau of Land Management and avid birder) caught sight of 3 brant geese on Saturday, December 20, on the North Spit of Coos Bay (Charleston, OR).

16 Dec. 22, 2003, Monday. Boundary Bay Regional Park, Tsawwassen/Delta, B.C. Canada. Weather was calm and clear. After several disruptions caused by bald eagles and a person walking a dog, three brant started to haul out on the beach. One bird with no band was marked with a dark oil patch on its flank. One of the other two had a radio antenna. After some time the antenna bird finally showed it's band and to my surprise I saw a white band on the right leg, Z6K. This bird was seen for several years in Tsawwassen with a long-time mate (white band Z1S). Then, about 4 years ago it was captured in Alaska and implanted with a radio with a visible antenna. Last year Z1S was seen several times without it’s Z6K mate. Z6K was seen frequently on the beach with another crippled or wounded brant. These two shared the behavior of quickly returning to the beach when other birds were flushed out into the bay by eagles, etc. Z1S was also seen to behave as if mated to another brant without a band. They would fight off and defend space on the beach together and Z1S was looking dominant. After seeing these displays on several occasions I assumed the pair Z6K/Z1S had broken up. WELL, they were together again this morning hauling out well ahead of the other flock of 100 to 120 Brant in the area. The next bird out of the water was a brant with one foot. Z6K was preening the area at the base of the antenna. This area was darkened much the same as previous years and the antenna might be shorter then it was last spring. It appears that brant with injuries return to the beach quicker than healthy birds. The quicker departure out of the water by Z6K may be a result of the radio and/or antenna. There may be a loss of feathers around the base of the antenna. Due to the behavior of Z6K last spring I'm surprised that this bird made it back this fall. I keep looking for yellow band 8H1, another Boundary Bay bird with a radio and it's mate -AA. These two always appeared healthy and even produced several young after 8H1 received the radio implant. I hope to see this pair again this year.
Richard Swanston, Delta, B.C. Canada

22 Dicimbre, 2003, Lunes. La Bahía de Límite Parque Regíonal,
Tsawwassen/Delta, B.C. Canada. El tiempo fue tranquilo y claro. Después de
varios interrumpidos causado de águilas y una persona caminando con su
perro, tres Brant empezaron a salir del agua y llegar a la playa. Un pájaro
sin cinta tenía una mancha oscura de aceite en su flanco. Uno de los otros,
tenía una antena de radio. Después de mucho tiempo, el pájaro con la antena,
finalmente me mostró la cinta, y me lo soprendío que vi una cinta blanca en
la pierna derecha, Z6K. Este pájaro se veían por varios años en Tsawwassen
con su cónyuge de mucho tiempo (cinta blanca Z1S). Entonces, habían como 4
años que fue capturada en Alaska, y se implantaron un radio con una antena
visible. El año pasado, Z1S fue visto varias veces sin su cónyuge (Z6K). Z6K
fue visto con frecuencia con otro Brant que fue herida o mutilado. Esos dos
pájaros mostraron el mismo comportamiento cuando otros pájaros fueron
(flushed out) hasta la bahía de una águila, etc. Ellos regresaron a la playa
rápidamente. Z1S también se portío como tenía otro conyuge sin cinta.
Juntos, pelearían con otros pájaros y defenderían espacio en la playa y Z1S
parecío dominante. Después de ver esos exhibiciones en varios ocasiones, me
asumí que la pareja Z6K/Z1S fue disolucionado. Bueno, estaban juntos otra
vez esta mañana saliendo del agua muy en frente del otro congregación de
100-120 Brant en la área. El próximo pájaro que salío del agua era un Brant
con solamente una pata. Z6K estaba limpiando la área a la base de la antena.
Esta área fue oscurecido como en años pasados y es posible que la antena es
más corta que era la primavera pasada. Parece que los Brants con heridas
regresan a la playa más rápido de pájaros de bien salud. La salida más
rápida de Z6K del agua puede ser una resulta del radio o/y de la antena. Es
posible que hay una perdida de plumas alrededor de la base de la antena.
Debido al comportamiento de Z6K la primavera pasada, me sorprendío que esta
pájaro podría regresar este otoño. Siempre estoy buscando "cinta amarilla
8H1," otro pájaro de La Bahía de Límite con un radio y su cónyuge - AA.
Estos dos siempre me parecieron de bien salud y siguiera reproducieron
varias veces después de 8H1 recibío la implanta de radio. Ojalá que veo esta
pareja otra vez este año. Richard Swanston, Delta, B.C. Canada

17 (Traduction a espanol abajo)

Last week, the snow prevented us from going branting. This week, we saw 300 brant between two locations! It was cloudy throughout the day, with a cold breeze, and the tide was going out.

From North Samish Island, we were 50 feet above the shore and we saw over 200 brant at a distance in the water. We knew they were brant by their long necks. While we were waiting for the brant to come closer, a hawk left its perch and flew in front of us. We did not see any brant at Camp Kirby, but we did see eagles, hawks, great blue heron, ducks, gulls, and a seal. Our third stop was the Swinomish Channel where we first saw 70 some brant, then a flock of about 20 brant flew in. Here we were on a dike and we had to be quiet and careful not to disturb the birds close by, which were hundreds of sandpipers, mallards, and Northern pintail.

Overall, we visited both the northern and the southern part of Padilla Bay. We had a wonderful time using a spotting scope (telescope) and seeing brant in their natural habitat. We enjoy that many kinds of birds can coexist peacefully in our bay.

Ayla Holbay, Linnea Stegner, Daniel Wagner, and Brian Hernandez

La semana pasada, la nieve nos previno de ir branting. ¡Esta semana, nosotros vimos 300 brant entre dos ubicaciones! Estaba nublado a través del día, con una brisa fría, y la marea salía.

De la Isla del norte de Samish, nosotros éramos 50 pies encima de la costa y nosotros vieron mas de 200 brant en una distancia en el agua. Sabimos ellos eran brant por cuellos largos. Mientras esperábamos el brant para venir más cerca, un halcón dejó su percha y voló delante de nosotros. No vimos cualquier brant en el Campo Kirby, pero vimos águilas, los halcones, gran garza azul, los patos, las gaviotas, y un sello. Nuestra tercera parada era el Canal de Swinomish donde vimos primero 70 algún brant, entonces una multitud de acerca de 20 brant voló en. Aquí estábamos en un dique y nosotros tuvimos que ser callado y cuidadoso no perturbar los pájaros cerca, que era sandpipers (Calidris especie), los lavancos, y pintail Septentrional.

En conjunto, nosotros visitamos el septentrional y la parte sur de la Bahía de Padilla. Tuvimos un tiempo maravilloso utilizando un telescopio y viendo brant en su habitat natural. Gozamos que muchas clases de pájaros pueden coexistir pacíficamente en nuestra bahía.

18 After 6 years and something close to 3,600 resightings on brant bands, I quit reading brant bands this season in Morro Bay. However, a few weeks ago on Nov. 30th I found myself with my scope in front of a flock of brant at a gritting site at the southern end of Morro Bay and I picked up a couple of dozen resightings just for fun, one of which was the most interesting resighting I've ever had.

This bird had a strange combination of bands (compared to what I normally see) and this week I finally found out who banded it and where it was banded. A Russian biologist banded it as a breeding female on July 11th last summer on the Lena River Delta on the Laptev Sea subsection of the Arctic Ocean (at approximately LAT 72 N, LONG 129 E). The headwaters of the Lena River originate just north of central Mongolia. Every year I've had banded Russian brant show up in Morro Bay, but they've been from way over near the tip of eastern Russia. In contrast, this bird was from an area closer to central arctic Russia. For you students, it's worth looking for the Lena River Delta in the atlas - she's made quite a journey.

As a side note, this week there were a little over 4,000 brant on Morro Bay.

John Roser
Los Osos, CA

19 Staff of Izembek National Wildlife Refuge conducted our annual Christmas Bird Count on Dec 31. It was low tide when we visited Izembek Lagoon, and much of the eelgrass beds were exposed. We estimated 2820 brant were in the middle section of the Lagoon. We also visited Kinzarof Lagoon on the Pacific side of the Alaska Peninsula, but we were not able to get very far into the Lagoon before sunset. We did not see any brant at this location. Later, on January 12, approximately 500 brant were seen in the northern part of Cold Bay just south of Kinzarof Lagoon. It has been a cold winter this year (parts of the lagoons are frozen), but there are still some brant that decide to stay here for the winter.

20 Observations: We started our field trip at 4:20 P.M. so we can still see the brants with the sunlight. There was a light breeze and we took with us some wind vanes that we´ve made at school. On the first place we visit "La Freidera" Camp, where we saw 4 brants and other kind of birds. We stayed there for a while, and then drove our car by the shore, slowly, so we can observe with our binoculars. Anyway, we didn´t see any brant until we reached "Pachico" Camp, where we saw another 6 brants.
The sky was clear; the tide was coming in, and therefore we didn't see any brant (because they were just arriving and the tide was high). We hope that we can keep looking for brants and sending you our reports.
Team # 1
Beatriz, Ignacia, Alonso, Carlos, Jessica

21 On November 18th in the morning, The "REBIVI Team" (Reserva de la Biosfera el Vizcaíno) made its first field trip to Laguna Ojo de Liebre (Hare´s Eye Lagoon). It lasted about one hour.
Greetings
Gabriel Zaragoza A.
Marisol Aguilar A.

22 Time: 5:17 p.m. We leave "Telesecundaria 35" and went to the oyster plant. When we arrive and look for the brants, we only saw sea gulls, egrets, curlews and a "reddish heron". We saw the sea gulls eating on the shore and between mangrove trees. We didn´t see any brant, because it was too late, and Teacher "Saul", leave the keys inside the car and it was very hard to open it.
Team # 2
Azalea, Estrella

23 Observations: We started our field trip at 1:04 p.m. We went to La Freidera Camp (we arrive there at 1:20 p.m.) There was a northwest strong wind, and the tide was low. We saw a group of 40 brants and a white heron. Later we saw two groups: one of 7 brants and the other of 50 brants. We arrive to Pachico Camp at 2:00 p.m. The tide was coming in and we got closer to the beach, to see the brants. There was a group of 60 brants and they were eating. We walk a little more and saw 180 brants and 34 ling-billed curlews. Very far from there, there were many brants. With the aid of a telescope we count around 1,300. Finally we get into the car and went back to school. It was 2:30 p.m.
Team #3
lejandra / Ramón / Juanita / Juan Ramón / Mireya

24 Richard Swanston saw 116 brant in Boundary Bay near Delta, B.C., Canada. The weather was cloudy with light winds, 8 degrees Celsius. He counted 24 juveniles (21%) and was able to read the bands on 8 birds. Some were in mated pairs and families with juveniles. He also saw one brant with a radio antenna. They all flew away when a bald eagle flew over.

25 We started our trip at 12:30 p.m. We went to Cortez Camp. We arrive at 12:58 p.m. We saw some long-billed curlews. The tide was low, there was no breeze, it was hot and sunny.
We took a little walk and we saw so many brants. They were very hard to count. We count 1,758. Our friend Uriel saw a fish (a cabrilla) in a hole. He grab it, we look at it and then he release it into the see again. When we finished it was 1:25 p.m.
We got back to Cortez Camp, to pick up the telescope box and a field guide We get into a "palapa" (a roof made of palm leaves, supported by 4 columns) and they offer us cookies and coffee. Uriel pour a lot of sugar into his coffee cup (he didn´t even finish his coffee and our friend Mary got angry for that). We leave the palapa and in our way to school we saw a coyote.
Team #4
Armida / Roberto / Antonia / Uriel / Cruz

26 We left Junior High School # 85 at 10:00 a.m. heading "El Pedregal" (Rocky ground). We were only 13 "Sanquibrantas" (including Teacher Gabriel) We arrive around 10:40 a.m. because the unpaved road was very bad. When we get there, the brant were very far away. Most of them were on the other side of the bay, near English Cemetery. It was a big flock, between 5,000 and 8,000. We stay there for a while, watching the brant, but they were so far that we only could observe them with telescope or binoculars.
Then we go to another site, and the Teacher film us on video when we get out of the bus. As we didn´t see any brant, we start walking and watching brants' habitat. We saw gun cartridges that some hunters leave there. The Teacher told us that he was shooting us with the video camera and that we´ll be on the local news channel. That really impress us and we start to wave our hands saying hello. After a while, some brants arrive (about 20). Most of them were adults. We notice it because of the well formed necklace. Around 12:30 we decided to get back to school and we arrive there at 1:20 p.m.

27 (Traduction a espanol abajo)

After low tide at 9:53, we arrived at Camp Kirby at 11:20. For the first time this school year, we saw brant at this site. We observed 12 brant floating in the water about 200 meters away. A quarter mile away, a boat went by, but there were no other human disturbances. We saw other birds, such as a Common Goldeneye and an Eared Grebe. The cold north wind kept the sky clear overhead, but cloudy over the San Juan Islands.

In Washington state, it is the middle of the January brant hunting season (5 days including two weekends). The caretakers at Camp Kirby said the hunters had been unsuccessful at hunting last weekend.

At the Swinomish Channel, there was a massive amount of birds. When we drove up on the dike, they were startled, but later subsided. There were many kinds of birds such as mallards, Northern Pintail, and Canvasback ducks, so it was hard to find the brant. Then, when we could identify them, we observed 100 brant about 400 meters away preening themselves and once in a while one would dive down for food. The reason we saw brant close to the shore today is that they like spits, or narrow pieces of land that stick out into the water, because they can be close to land without being close to disturbances on the shore of the mainland.

Katie Griffith, Sarah Thramer, Sam Lipke, Lucas Jamison
(Spanish Translation below)

Después de la bajamar a 9:53, nosotros llegamos en el Campo Kirby a 11:20. Para la primera vez este año de escuela, nosotros vimos brant en este sitio. Observamos 12 brant que flota en el agua acerca de 200 metros lejos. Una milla cuarta lejos, un barco fue por, pero había ningunos otros alborotos humanos. Vimos otros pájaros, tal como un Goldeneye Común y un Colimbo de Eared. El viento frío del norte mantuvo el cielo vacía de arriba, pero nublado sobre las Islas de San Juan.

En el estado de Washington, es el centro de la temporada que caza las brantas en enero (5 días inclusive dos fines de semana). Los vigilantes en el Campo Kirby dijeron que los cazadores habían sido fracasados en cazando fin de semana pasada.

En el Canal de Swinomish, había una cantidad masiva de pájaros. Cuándo nosotros subimos en el dique, ellos fueron asustados, pero luego bajados. Había muchas clases de pájaros tales como lavancos, Pintail Septentrional, y patos de Canvasback, así que debía encontrar el brant. Entonces, cuando nosotros los podríamos identificar, observamos que 100 brant acerca de 400 metros maquillándose a sí mismo lejos y de vez en cuando uno zambulliría hacia abajo para alimento. La razón nosotros vimos brant cerca de la costa es hoy que ellos quieren peninsulas, o los pedazos estrechos de la tierra que sobresale en el agua, porque ellos pueden ser cercana aterrizar sin es cerca de alborotos en la costa del continente.

28 (Traduction a espanol abajo)

After low tide at 9:53, we arrived at Camp Kirby at 11:20. For the first time this school year, we saw brant at this site. We observed 12 brant floating in the water about 200 meters away. A quarter mile away, a boat went by, but there were no other human disturbances. We saw other birds, such as a Common Goldeneye and an Eared Grebe. The cold north wind kept the sky clear overhead, but cloudy over the San Juan Islands.

In Washington state, it is the middle of the January brant hunting season (5 days including two weekends). The caretakers at Camp Kirby said the hunters had been unsuccessful at hunting last weekend.

At the Swinomish Channel, there was a massive amount of birds. When we drove up on the dike, they were startled, but later subsided. There were many kinds of birds such as mallards, Northern Pintail, and Canvasback ducks, so it was hard to find the brant. Then, when we could identify them, we observed 100 brant about 400 meters away preening themselves and once in a while one would dive down for food. The reason we saw brant close to the shore today is that they like spits, or narrow pieces of land that stick out into the water, because they can be close to land without being close to disturbances on the shore of the mainland.

Katie Griffith, Sarah Thramer, Sam Lipke, Lucas Jamison
(Spanish Translation below)

Después de la bajamar a 9:53, nosotros llegamos en el Campo Kirby a 11:20. Para la primera vez este año de escuela, nosotros vimos brant en este sitio. Observamos 12 brant que flota en el agua acerca de 200 metros lejos. Una milla cuarta lejos, un barco fue por, pero había ningunos otros alborotos humanos. Vimos otros pájaros, tal como un Goldeneye Común y un Colimbo de Eared. El viento frío del norte mantuvo el cielo vacía de arriba, pero nublado sobre las Islas de San Juan.

En el estado de Washington, es el centro de la temporada que caza las brantas en enero (5 días inclusive dos fines de semana). Los vigilantes en el Campo Kirby dijeron que los cazadores habían sido fracasados en cazando fin de semana pasada.

En el Canal de Swinomish, había una cantidad masiva de pájaros. Cuándo nosotros subimos en el dique, ellos fueron asustados, pero luego bajados. Había muchas clases de pájaros tales como lavancos, Pintail Septentrional, y patos de Canvasback, así que debía encontrar el brant. Entonces, cuando nosotros los podríamos identificar, observamos que 100 brant acerca de 400 metros maquillándose a sí mismo lejos y de vez en cuando uno zambulliría hacia abajo para alimento. La razón nosotros vimos brant cerca de la costa es hoy que ellos quieren peninsulas, o los pedazos estrechos de la tierra que sobresale en el agua, porque ellos pueden ser cercana aterrizar sin es cerca de alborotos en la costa del continente.

29 (Traduction a espanol abajo)

We arrived at Camp Kirby at about 11:20 this morning. The tide was coming in and it was overcast with a light breeze which made it chilly. We were stopped by some people involved in brant research who were trying to catch some brant using nets attached to rockets. They wanted to attach radio transmitters to the brant to track them. It was unexpected, but nontheless, we started looking for brant. We saw 534 brant (the biggest group we’ve seen so far this winter)! We also saw many Common Loons, mergansers, and a cormrorant.

We stopped at North Samish Island and didn’t see any brant, but we saw some Common Goldeneye. At 1:20, we arrived at the Swinomish Channel and identified only 3 adult brant among many Northern pintail, mallards, and bufflehead. We also saw a large flock of shorebirds and thought that it was possible that some of the birds farther away could have been brant. Just as we were leaving, a train carrying liquified petrolem oil to the nearby oil refinery crossed the swinging bridge across the channel (new experience).

Today, we also saw 7 immature eagles in the fields and in trees. Sean expressed that he has seen many birds before, but never looked so closely to identify them.

Stephanie Black, Billy Wibbens, Steve B., Sean Stransky,
Jonna Sloan
(Spanish translation below)

Llegamos en el campo Kirby en acerca de 11:20 esta mañana. La marea entraba y estaba nublado con una brisa que cuál hizo fresco. Fuimos parados por algunas personas implicó en investigación de brant que quién trataba agarra algúnas brantas que utiliza redes conectó a cohetes. Ellos quisieron atar la radio transmisores a las brantas seguir con el radar. Era inesperado pero nosotros comienzo que buscando brant. ¡Vimos 534 brant (el grupo más grande nosotros vio hasta ahora este invierno)! Vimos también muchos Somorgujos Comunes, los mergos, y un cormroran.

Paramos en el norte de las Isla de Samish e no vimos cualquier brant, pero vimos algún Goldeneye Común. En 1:20, nosotros llegamos en el Canal de Swinomish e identificamos sólo 3 brant de adulto entre muchos pintail Septentrional, los lavancos, y bufflehead (Bucephela albeola). Vimos también un grande bandada de shorebirds y pensó que era posible que algunos de los pájaros más lejano pudieran haber sido lejos brant. Así como salíamos, un tren llevando licuó el petróleo de petrolem al cerca de refinería de petróleo cruzó el columpiando puente a través del canal (la experiencia nueva).

Hoy, nosotros vimos también 7 águilas inmaduras en los campos y en árboles. Sean expresó que él ha visto que muchos pájaros antes, pero nunca intento identificar ellos.

30 Bodega Bay, California--Steve Hug counted 1017 brant on Dec. 11, the highest ever personal count for this bay.

31 Drakes Estero, California--On Dec. 18, Steve Hug counted 255 brant, 10 more than this time last year.

32 Tomales Bay, Marin County, California--
On Jan. 21, Steve Hug counted 1,243 brant.

33 At 16:00 (4:00 p.m.) 4 Brant Geese were seen flying north up Georgia Straight between Polier Pass and the Southern tip of Gabrolia Island. This is well north of the mouth of the Fraser River where brant spend the winter. So maybe this is the beginning of the spring migration! The sun sets at about 17:15 here now so it seems kind of late in the day for brant to be moving to a winter feeding area.

34 It’s a tough life for brant in Boundary Bay near Vancouver B.C. Canada. On February 8, Richard Swanston counted 330 bald eagles along one shore of the bay. Eagles eat brant geese and every time an eagle flies by, all the brant have to get up and fly away. They're also frightened by human activity and there are a lot of people that live, work and play in the area. It must be hard for them to be disturbed so frequently in this cold winter season.

35 I counted 432 Brant in Bodega Bay on 2/8, and 173 on 2/9. Bodega Bay is about 60 miles north of San Francisco. During the 2/8 count the tide was low and during the 2/9 count the tide was high. Do not know if tide has anything to do with Brant count. Anybody have any knowledge on this?

Bodega Bay is a fairly heavily populated area. Restaurants, boat docks and human recreation areas surround the bay. Boats stay in the channel and the Brant stay out of the channel. Thus there is no interference with boats. Human activity, except for wind surfers who stay in one area, does not seem to disturb the Brant. No kayaks are used on the bay, so far. I have seen kayaks disturb Brant in
Tomales Bay and Drakes Estero. There are no Bald Eagles at Bodega Bay.

Rod Hug

36 test

37 (Tranduction a espanol abajo) At Camp Kirby at 11:20, we didn’t see any brant but we saw seagulls, mergansers, and scaup. It was sunny, windy, and very cold because we were right on the water. We picked up some garbage on the beach and found several shotgun shells from hunters. At North Samish Island at 12:45, we saw 24 brant floating west in the cold wind. We also saw goldeneye, seagulls, mergansers, scaups, Great Blue Heron, and an eagle. At the Swinomish Channel, we were at low tide at 2:15 so all the waterfowl was far away. We counted 62 brant, but we imagine there were many more we could not distinguish. We saw mallards, Northern Pintail, widgeon, a Northern Harrier, and a falcon. There were planes, boats, and a train very nearby. We had a lot of fun using spotting scopes and binoculars. Kyle Mannen, Tyler Knutzen, Cody Jones, Travis Hofkamp (Spanish translation below) A Campo de Kirby a 11:20, nosotros no hicimos cualquier brant pero vimos las gaviotas, los mergos, y scaup. Hacía sol, ventoso, y muy frío porque estábamos en el misma agua. Recogimos alguna basura en la playa y encontramos varias balas de escopeta de cazadores. En la Isla del Norte Samish en 12:45, nosotros vimos 24 brantas que flota al oeste en el viento frío. Vimos también goldeneye, las gaviotas, los mergos, scaups, Gran Garza Azul, y un águila. En el Canal de Swinomish, nosotros llegamos en la bajamar en 2:15 tan todo el waterfowl era muy lejos. Contamos 62 brantas, pero nosotros nos imaginamos había muchos más nosotros no podríamos distinguirnos. Vimos lavancos, Pintail Septentrional, los ánades (Anas americana), un especie de halcon septentrional, y un halcón. Había los aviones, los barcos, y un entrena muy cerca de. Tuvimos mucho divertido utilizando los telescopios y binoculares.

38 (Traduction a espanol abajo) At Camp Kirby at 11:30, we were glad to see over 200 brant in Padilla Bay! We found a lot of eelgrass that had washed up onshore and we learned that it has square cells and tubes that transport water and sugar to the rest of the plant. We also saw some seagulls and many small birds that we thought were baby seagulls, but they were actually dunlins (Calidris alpina), or that was our best guess. On our way to the first site, we saw two eagles (one adult, black with a white head and one juvenile with brown feathers) and several hawks. In Samish Bay, we saw two Harlequin ducks (Histrionicus histrionicus). They are very colorful birds with red, blue and black feathers with white stripes. At the third site (Swinomish Channel) we did not see any brant. This site is a good place for brant to come because it is far away from people but close to shore. We were surprised we did not see any brant. We saw a flock of about 200 dunlins. They were so synchronized as they flew that it was like they were playing follow the leader! They were very interesting and we could watch them all day. On our journey, we saw a total of 8 eagles and 4 Great Blue Heron. We are glad that we had the opportunity to have this birding experience. Sarah, Jessica, Carley, and Kendra (Translation to Spanish below) ¡A Campo de Kirby a 11:30, estábamos contentos ver sobre 200 brant en la Bahía de Padilla! Encontramos que mucho pasto marino era arrojada a la playa y nosotros aprendimos que tenemos las células cuadrados y los tubos que transportan agua y azúcar al resto de la planta. Vimos también algunas gaviotas y muchos pájaros pequeños que pensamos eran las gaviotas de bebé, pero ellos eran verdaderamente dunlins (Calidris alpina), o eso era nuestra mejor adivinación. En nuestra manera al primer sitio, nosotros vimos dos águilas (un adulto, negro con una cabeza blanca y un joven con plumas marrones) y varios halcones. En la Bahía de Samish, nosotros vimos dos patos de Arlequín (Histrionicus histrionicus). Ellos son pájaros lleno de color con plumas rojas, azules y negras con rayas blancas. En el tercer sitio (el Canal de Swinomish) nosotros no vimos cualquier brant. Este sitio es un lugar bueno para el brant para venir porque es muy lejos de personas pero cerca de costa. Fuimos sorprendidos nosotros no vimos cualquier brant. Vimos una multitud de acerca de 200 dunlins. ¡Ellos eran tan sincronizados como ellos volaron que estaban como ellos jugaban sigue el líder! Ellos interesaban y nosotros los podríamos mirar todo el día. En nuestro viaje, nosotros vimos un suma de 8 águilas y 4 Gran Garza Azul. Estamos contentos que tuvimos la oportunidad tener esta experiencia.

39 (Traduccion a espanol abajo) Today we went to Camp Kirby and saw 180 brant. This morning, it was sunny and windy and the tide was going out. The brant were floating, eating, and flying. We also saw seagulls and "mohawk birds" (mergansers). A speed boat was in the area to pull up crab traps but it did not seem to disturb the brant. We picked up some litter on the beach. On the north side of Samish Island, we saw 10 more mergansers and 5 harlequin ducks. By this time, it was cloudy and windy. The third site we went to was the Swinomish Channel. At 1:50, the tide was really far out and it was very windy. We did not see any brant but we saw a red-tailed hawk and mallard ducks. Lindsey Loving, Danielle Griffith, Krista Studebaker, Maddy Barden (Spanish translation below) Hoy fuimos a Campo de Kirby y vio 180 brant. Esta mañana, hacía sol y ventoso y la marea salía. Las brantas flotaba, comía, y volaba. Vimos también gaviotas y "pajaros de mohawk" (los mergos). Un barco de la velocidad estaba en el área de arrancarse las trampas de cangrejos pero no parecer perturbar el brant. Recogimos alguna basura en la playa. En el lado del norte de la Isla de Samish, nosotros vimos 10 más mergos y 5 patos de arlequín. Por esta vez, estaba nublado y ventoso. El tercer sitio que fuimos a era el Canal de Swinomish. A 1:50, la marea era realmente distante fuera y era muy ventoso. No hicimos cualquier brant pero vimos un halcón (Buteo jamaicensis) y patos de lavanco.

40 Bands: (I think this shows that the birds in the bay return faithfully winter after winter. The following birds were seen every year since the first year seen) * Mated pair, white band, >T4 and >S6. First seen in 1999. * Blue band on right leg, 5KE first seen in 1999. * Yellow bandon right leg, 2LK first seen in 1995. * Blue band on left leg, RKT first seen in Feb. 1995 White bands LAR and LKG, this pair was seen every year since Dec. 1993 except 1996 and 99. They have spent every winter in Boundary Bay for over 10 Years! This one was banded here in 95/96 by Mr. Reed: Yellow Band on the left leg, 013 A group of 20 included 15 grey belly brant, 7 were juvenile: 1 family unit with 3 juvenlies, 1 family with 2 juveniles, and 1 Family with 1 juvenile. All had 2 parents. Richard Swanston Delta , B.C. Canada

41 (Traduccion a espanol abajo)
We saw brant at all 3 sites we visited today. So far, we have seen the most brant of any other group from our school. It was very sunny and warm today (55? F).

At camp Kirby, we counted 60 brant close to shore and over 600 brant out further, maybe 2 miles out. It was high tide and it was windy. The brant were swimming and eating eelgrass. A crabbing boat came by and they flew further away. We also saw adult and juvenile seagulls, "mohawk birds" (mergansers), and five eagles soaring overhead.

On the north side of Samish Island, we saw 8 brant in Samish Bay at 12:50. The birds’ behavior was normal, including eating and swimming. At this spot it was not as windy as the first spot, and the tide was going out. Some disturbances were boats, one went really close to the brant (at least 30 feet). Other birds we saw were common loons, male goldeneye ducks, surf scoters, widgeons, and harlequin ducks.

The third spot we went (Swinomish Channel) was shy of brant (we only saw 10), but there were a bunch of different ducks like mallard, widgeon, and Northern pintail. The water was calm and the tide was going out.

Rochelle Fischer, Dylan Schols, Molly Alar, Demi Fair

(Translation to Spanish below)
Vimos brant en los 3 sitios que visitamos hoy. Hasta ahora, hemos visto las la mayoria de las brantas de cualquier otro grupo de nuestra escuela. Era hoy muy soleado y tibio (55F).

En el campo Kirby, nosotros contamos 60 brant cerca de costa y sobre 600 brant fuera aún más, quizá 2 millas fuera. Era la pleamar y era ventoso. El brant nadaba y comía pasto marino (eelgrass). Un barco vino por arrancarse las trampas de los cangrejos y ellos volaron aún más lejos. Vimos también el adulto y las gaviotas juveniles, "pájaros de mohawk" (los mergos), y cinco águilas que elevan de arriba.

En el lado del norte de la Isla de Samish, nosotros vimos 8 brant en la Bahía de Samish a 12:50. Los pájaros’ la conducta era normal, inclusive comer y natación. En este lugar que lo no era tan ventoso como el primer lugar, y la marea salía. Algunos alborotos eran los barcos, uno fue realmente cerca del brant (por lo menos 30 pies). Otros pájaros que vimos eran los somorgujos, patos masculinos de ojo doroado comun (Bucephala clangula), surf scoters (Melanitta perspicillata), los ánades, y patos de arlequín.

El tercero marca fuimos (el Canal de Swinomish) era tímido de brant (nosotros sólo vimos 10), pero había un ramo de patos diferentes como lavanco, como el ánade, y como pintail Septentrional. El agua era calma y la marea salía.



42 (Tradducion a espanol abajo)

We left Bayview School at 10:00 a.m. to start our brant trip. It had been raining earlier that morning, so we were worried. By the time we left, it was bright and sunny. However, throughout our three stops, we saw no brant. It may have been because it was very windy and the tide was very low. We saw some cool plants like eelgrass and madrona trees. We saw a loon at Camp Kirby, five heron on the mud flat, and several eagles soaring overhead. At the Swinomish Channel, there was a flock of seagulls. (A loud train went over the bridge just before we arrived and could have scared other birds).
So, though we did not see any brant the whole day, we had a great day overall learning about birds, plants and trees.

David Raish, Matt Hall, Tyler Luvera

(Spanish translation below)

Dejabamos la Escuela de Bayview a las 10:00 de la mañana para empezar nuestro viaje de brantas. Había estado lloviendo más temprano en la mañana, así que estuvimos preocupado. Cuando nosotros dejiamos, hacia brillante y soleado. Sin embargo, a través de nuestras tres paradas, nosotros vimos no brantas. Puede haber sido porque era muy ventoso y la marea era muy baja. Vimos algunas plantas como pasto marino y árboles de madrona. Vimos un somorgujo en el Campo Kirby, cinco garza en el barro plano, y varias águilas que vuelo. En el Canal de Swinomish, había una multitud de gaviotas. (Un tren ruidoso repasó el puente apenas antes nosotros llegabamos y podría haber espantado otros pájaros). Así, aunque no vimos cualquier brantas el día entero, nosotros tuvimos un gran día aprender general acerca de pájaros, las plantas y los árboles.





43 (Traduccion a espanol abajo)

Today at Camp Kirby it was very cold and windy and the tide was high and coming in. There were more than 262 brant. Some were floating, flying, or eating. We could not tell if they were juveniles or adults because of the distance. (A helicopter that flew over and three eagles in the area did not disturb the brant).

On the north side of Samish Island, there were no brant but there was an eagle and 17 mergansers. Our last stop was at the Swinomish Channel around 1:30. At the time, the tide was high and going out. It was really cold and windy. At this site, there were no brant but there were hundreds of Northern pintails and American widgeon.

In conclusion, we only saw brant at Camp Kirby. At the other two sites we saw Bald Eagles, Red-tailed hawks, Marsh Hawks, Great Blue Heron, Common loon, Red-breasted mergansers, Northern pintail and American widgeon.

Ein Abernathy, Katie Bluhm, Megan Sadlowsky, Matt Hall

(Spanish translation below)

Hoy en el Campo Kirby que lo era muy frío y ventoso y la marea era alta y entrando. Había más de 262 brantas. Algunos flotaban, volaban, o comían. Nosotros no podríamos decir si ellos eran ÿjovenes ni adultos a causa de la distancia. (Un helicóptero que voló sobre y tres águilas en el área no perturbaron las brantas).

En el lado del norte de la Isla de Samish, no había brant pero había un águila y 17 mergos. Nuestra última parada estaba en el Canal de Swinomish alrededor de 1:30. En el tiempo, la marea era alta y saliendo. Era realmente frío y ventoso. En este sitio, no había brant pero había centenares de pintails Septentrional y ánade Americano.

En conclusion, nosotros sólo vimos brant en el Campo Kirby. En los otros dos sitios que vimos las águilas (Heliaeetus leucocephalus), los halcones (Buteo jamaicensis), los halcones de pantanos (Circus cyaneus), Gran Garza Azul (Ardea herodias), los somorgujos (Gavia immer), los mergos (Mergus serrator), pintail Septentrional (Anas acuta), y ánade Americano (Anas americana).


44 (Tradducion a espanol abajo)

Today we went to two sites to look for brant. It was cloudy and windy. At Camp Kirby we saw over 400 brant just before low tide at noon. We also saw a common loon, an eared grebe, several bufflehead, seagulls, and two bald eagles. We found many empty crab shells in the eelgrass onshore and talked about the different types of clams on the beach. At the second site we did not see any brant but we saw several common mergansers, harlequin ducks, surf scoters, and common goldeneye. That was the first time we have ever seen or heard of these birds, but it was really cool. We also saw a pink flowering bush called the red flowering currant. We see heron everyday, and today we saw 16 Great Blue Heron on the mudflat at low tide.

Laura Eubanks, Kate Stice, Joe Jones, Monika Martinez

(Spanish translation below)

Hoy fuimos a dos sitios a buscar brant. Estaba nublado y ventoso. En el Campo Kirby nosotros vimos sobre 400 brantas apenas antes de bajamar a mediodía. Vimos también un somorgujo común, un colimbo, varios "bufflehead" (Bucephala albeola), las gaviotas, y dos águilas calvas. Encontramos muchos caparazon vacíos del cangrejo en el pasto marino y hablamos acerca de los tipos diferentes de almejas en la playa. En el segundo sitio nosotros no vimos cualquier brant pero vimos varios mergos comunes, patos de arlequín, surf scoters (Melanitta perspicillata), y ojo doroado común (Bucephala clangula). Eso era la primera vez nosotros hemos visto de estos pájaros, pero estaba realmente fantastico. Vimos también una rosa que florece, la grosella roja florecimiento (Ribes sanguineum). Vemos la garza todas las dias, y hoy nosotros vimos 16 Gran Garza Azul en el barro plano en la bajamar.


45 (Traduccion a espanol abajo)

At 11:30 at site #1 (Camp Kirby) we saw the most brant we have seen this school year, over 1500! It was raining, with calm winds. The water was choppy and there was only one boat out. The brant were swimming around, bobbing their heads and feeding on eelgrass. We also saw two black-tailed deer (in the woods above the beach).

At 11:50 at site #2 (North Samish Island) the water was flat and calm. We saw common mergansers, surf scoters and a big red oil tanker, but no brant. At 2:20 at site #3 (Swinomish Channel), the tide was already out and we did not see any brant. It was cold and windy. We did see 3 common loons, 7 mergansers and a couple of mallards. We walked around and found a lot of shotgun shells, glass, and litter.

At the interpretive center, we walked down the beach and saw who could find the biggest crab. We also saw plankton on a big screen with a projecting microscope and we saw other marine life under microscopes. Overall, the trip was a lot of fun.

Dylan Schol, Tyler Knutzen, Travis Hofkamp, Cody Jones

(Spanish translation below)

¡A 11:30 en el sitio #1 (el Campo Kirby) vimos la mayoria de las brantas nosotros hemos visto este año, mas de 1500! Llovía, con vientos calmos. El agua era inquieta y había sólo uno barco. Las brantas nadaba alrededor, mojaban las cabezas submarina y que ellos alimentaban en el pasto marino. Vimos también dos venado con colas negras (en el bosque encima de la playa).

En 11:50 en el sitio #2 (la Isla del norte de Samish) el agua era plana y calma. Vimos mergos comunes, surf scoters (Melanitta perspicillata) y un petrolero rojo grande de petróleo, pero ningún brant. En 2:20 en el sitio #3 (el Canal de Swinomish), la marea era ya fuera y nosotros no vimos cualquier brant. Hacía frío y ventoso. Vimos 3 somorgujos comunes, 7 mergos y un par de lavancos. Anduvimos alrededor de y encontramos muchos balas de escopetas, el vidrio, y la basura.

En el centro que interpreta, anduvimos por la playa y vimos quién podría encontrar el cangrejo más grande. Obtuvimos también ver el plancton en una pantalla grande con un microscopio que proyecta y obtuvimos para ver otra vida marina bajo microscopios. En términos generales, el viaje era mucha diversión.


46 Hello! My name is Heather Lester. I work at South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve. South Slough is located in Coos Bay, Oregon. Students from the Boys & Girls Club of Southwestern Oregon and I took a field trip to Fossil Point on Friday, April 2nd. Our group consists of 10 fourth, fifth and sixth grade students who are interested in bike riding, swimming, bowling, snow boarding and bird watching. Some people think Coos Bay can be boring, but many tourists come here to go clamming and fishing. During the winter, it rains a lot in Coos Bay. Summers are windy and sunny. Some of this group's favorite subjects in school are: art, math/algebra, reading/poetry, music and science. After school these students travel to the Boys and Girls Club, where they can take part in a variety of activities. Staff from South Slough teach two classes every month.

On April 2nd, the air temperature was 58 degrees fahrenheit. It was windy! The wind blew at 18mph. There was no precipitation on this day. At the overlook, we saw 75 brant. They were huddled at the edge of the eelgrass bed, riding the rough bay waves. We observed them (through our binoculars and spotting scope) paddling around, dipping their heads in the water to feed, chasing eachother and taking short flights. Further south, down Cape Arago, we observed about 20 brant from Fossil Point. These brant were riding wind waves in the middle of the bay and could only be seen when they were up on the crest of a wave. They looked like they were simply enduring the rough weather.

47 ENGLISH: Today, Iván Manríquez, from Pro Esteros (Ensenada), visit us, and we made a field trip. We went to Campo Pachico at 12:23, the day was sunny, there was a light breeze from north. We arrive and there was a big group of brant swimming close to the shore. We count them, they were about 1200. Then we went to the runway, and there we saw 20 brant. We continue our trip, and arrive to Campo La Freidera and saw 60 brant swimming with some sea gulls and cormorants. When we were going back to school, we saw a very thin coyote.
ESPAÑOL: Hoy nos visitó Iván Manríquez, de Pro Esteros, y nos acompañó en nuestro recorrido de observación. Nos dirigimos a Campo Pachico, eran las 12:23 p.m., el día era soleado, el viento muy leve y soplaba del norte, la marea estaba normal. Llegamos y había un gran grupo de brantas nadando a poca distancia. Con la ayuda de los binoculares y telescopio pudimos contar las brantas que eran 1200 aproximadamente. Después nos dirigimos a la pista aérea y había 20 brantas. Seguimos nuestro camino y llegamos a La Freidera y observamos 60 brantas que nadaban junto con unas gaviotas y cormoranes. De regreso a la escuela vimos un coyote muy flaco.

48 ENGLISH: Today, February 29th, 10:30 on the morning, a school friend and I went to the camp where my mom works: Campo Cortez. We arrive and said hello, then we went to the beach and collect some sea shells (snails and clams) Then we use the kayaks and we went to the mangrove swamp and saw a little group of 14 brant. Some sea gulls were swimming with them. We keep rowing, and saw another group of brant, this time they were 360. Some of them were swimming on the shore, some were eating eelgrass out of the water.
Azalea y Juán Ruiz.
ESPAÑOL: Hoy, 29 de febrero, 10:30 de la mañana, fuimos yo y un compañero de la telesecundaria a un campamento donde trabaja mi mamá: Campo Cortez. Llegamos, saludamos y luego bajamos a la playa a recolectar caracoles y almejas. Después nos fuimos a pasear en kayak a los mangles y vimos un pequeño grupo de brantas de 14 aves; con ellas nadaban algunas gaviotas. Seguimos nuestro paseo y miramos otro grupo de brantas, de 360. Unas nadaban en la orilla y otras comían pasto marino fuera del agua.
Azalea y Juán Ruiz.


49 ENGLISH: We, the school team number 1, (Ignacia, Beatriz, Alonso and Carlos), went to observe the brant, and the teachers Saúl and Karla was with us. We went to Campo Cortez. We walked a little and saw about 574 brant that were swimming with some sea gulls and cormorants. Then we went to another place, but there wasn´t any brant or any other bird around. We think that's because of some noisy boats.
ESPAÑOL: El equipo 1, el cual está formado por Ignacia, Beatriz, Alonso y Carlos, salió a ver las brantas acompañados por el maestro Saúl y la profesora Karla. Llevamos material para poder ver a las brantas. Fuimos a Campo Cortez. El profe pidió permiso para poder pasar. Caminamos un poco y vimos 574 brantas que nadaban junto con gaviotas grises y patos buzos. Después nos dirigimos a otro lugar, pero no había ninguna ave, creemos que por el movimiento de lanchas que había.


50 ENGLISH: Today we arrive from Rancho El Silencio (The Silence Ranch) at 5:20 on the evening, and saw some brant. I count 58 that were swimming. Then 8 fly above us. The waether was cold and the tide was coming in. It was cloudy and windy.
ESPAÑOL: Hoy llegamos a las 5:20 de la tarde del Rancho El Silencio, de un concurso académico y llegando a la laguna, vimos unas brantas. Conté 58 que nadaban. Después pasaron 8 volando. El clima era frío y la marea estaba subiendo, el cielo era nublado y hacía viento.

51 ENGLISH: 4:00 p.m. We leave school after we prepare our field equipment. We went to El Cardón; when we arrive, we went to a student's house and then to the place were the fishermen beach their boats, and there were no brant, only sea gull and curlew bills.
4:20 p.m. Before we arrive to the oyster plant we saw 17 brant. There was another kind of birds, that looks like brant, but they have a diferent kind of bill. We try to identify them with our field guides, and we think they were Canada Goose.
4:30 p.m. We arrive to the oyster plant and there was the father of one of the students. She is sick, so we ask him about her. He told us that she was fine. We went to the other side of the plant and count 130 brantas and some other birds. The breeze was ligth, coming from southwest, the sky was cloudless and the tide was coming in.
ESPAÑOL: 4:00 p.m. Salimos de la escuela después de haber preparado el equipo. Salimos hacia El Cardón; cuando llegamos fuimos a casa de una compañera y nos fuimos a los varaderos y no había brantas, solo gaviotas y zarapicos.
4:20 p.m. Antes de llegar a la planta de ostiones vimos 17 brantas y había otro tipo de aves que parecían brantas, pero tenían pico diferente. Según nosotros lo vimos en las guías, eran gansos canadienses (Canada goose).
4:30 p.m. Llegamos a la planta de ostiones y nos encontramos con el papá de una compañera que estaba enferma y nos dijo que ella está bien. Pasamos hasta el otro lado de la planta y contamos 130 brantas y otras aves. El viento era leve, provenía del suroeste, el cielo estaba despejado, la marea subía.


52 ENGLISH: My school friends and I made some community work on a fishing camp. We made a trash collect, until we fill a truck. Then, they take it to the dump. Meanwhile we take a rest. When the truck was back, we started the collect again. While we were working, there were some brant, so the teacher told me: "Nachita, cuenta esas brantas mientras nosotros seguimos trabajando" (Nachita, count those brant while we keep working). I and a friend count them. They were 174. The teacher ask me to do this report. I like to count brant, because they are very important and pretty. It was about 11:00 on the morning, the tide was going out, the wind was coming from south, it was cloudy, and a little rainy. At 1:00 we went to our houses, and when I was arriving, there were so many brants. I count them and they were 287. There were also some other birds, like sea gulls, egretts y curlews. Were I live, there's an oyster plant and were the brant were, there was a bed of oysters too.
That's all...
Nachita
ESPAÑOL: Mis compañeros y maestros nos pusimos a trabajar en la comunidad, pero en otra parte en donde no está la escuela. Es un campo pesquero. Nos pusimos a juntar basura hasta que llenamos un camión y la fueron a tirar al basurero. Descansamos un rato mientras llegaba el camión de regreso; cuando llegó, empezamos a juntar más basura de nuevo. Cuando andábamos, había brantas. El maestro me dijo: "Nachita, cuenta esas brantas mientras nosotros seguimos trabajando". Me puse a contar brantas yo y otro compañero. Contamos 174, le dimos el resultado al maestro y me dijo que hiciera el reporte por favor. Me gusta contar brantas porque son muy importantes y bonitas. Eran como las 11:00 de la mañana, el agua estaba bajando, el viento venía del sur, estaba nublado y llovió un ratito. A la 1:00 p.m. nos fuimos para nuestras casas, y cuando iba llegando a mi casa, había muchas brantas y me puse a contarlas y eran 287. También había otras aves como gaviotas, garzas, zarapicos y en donde yo vivo hay una empresa de ostiones y en donde andaban las brantas, también andaban ostiones.
Es todo...
Atte. Nachita


53 (Traduccion a espanol abajo)

After visiting the Padilla Bay Interpretive Center to gather our gear and maps, we headed off to Camp Kirby on Samish Island. There, we were amazed to find over 2,000 brant, more than our director had ever seen! Some were close to shore and some were several hundred meters away. The tide was high and going out. We were very lucky because the weather was sunny and clear for our entire trip. We spent about 50 minutes at the first location watching the brant, loons, seagulls, mergansers and the great blue herons. Then we studied the maps, pointed out the islands, and identified the spit habitat before moving on to the second spot. There we ate lunch and looked at the beach full of crabs, limpets, and two dogs. There were no brant here, however, we did see seagulls, common loons, mergansers, and surf scoters. On to the third location! Here again, we did not see any brant but we saw a Great Blue Heron eating his meal. By this time, the tide had gone out. We hope you have much fun studying the brant as we did. It was very interesting!

Brittany, Lauren, Kaitlyn, Allie

(Spanish translation below)

Después que visitar la Bahía de Padilla el Centro que interpreta acumular nuestro engranaje y los mapas, dejamos para ir a Campo Kirby en la Isla de Samish. ¡Allí, fuimos asombrados para encontrar mas de 2,000 brant, más que nuestro director había visto jamás! Algunos eran cerca de la costa y algunos eran varios cien metros lejos. La marea era alta y saliendo. Teníamos mucha suerte porque el tiempo era soleado y claro para nuestro viaje entero. Gastamos acerca de 50 minutos en la primera ubicación que mira el brant, los somorgujos, las gaviotas, los mergos y las gran garzas azules. Entonces estudiamos los mapas, indicamos las islas, e identificamos el habitat de peninsula siguiendo antes adelante al segundo lugar. Allí comimos almuerzo y miramos la playa repleta de cangrejos, de las lapas, y de dos perros. No había brant aquí, sin embargo, nosotros vimos gaviotas, los somorgujos comun, los mergos, y scoters de oleaje (Melanitta perspicillata). ¡En a la tercera ubicación! Aquí otra vez, nosotros no vimos cualquier brant pero vimos una Gran Garza Azul que come su comida. Por esta vez, la marea había salido. Esperamos que usted tenga mucha diversión que estudia las brantas como nosotros hicimos. ¡Interesaba muy!


54 Spring migrants have arrived at Izembek Lagoon. I am not sure when the very first brant arrived, because we had over 12,000 brant stay here for the winter. It can be difficult distinguishing the first arrivals from the resident birds. On Monday, April 19, we were finally sure that we were seeing migrants. Multiple flocks of brant were arriving at the lagoon during the afternoon. Flocks ranged from 25-1500 in size. Today, April 21, I went to the top of Baldy Mountain to listen for radios we have put on Steller's eiders, a seaduck that winters in large numbers in Izembek Lagoon. Baldy Mountain is about 1000 feet in elevation and provides a good view of most of the central part of Izembek Lagoon (the lagoon is 32 miles long, so it is difficult to see the whole thing). I used my binoculars to scan the lagoon and could see flocks of brant scattered throughout Applegate Cove and near Grant Point, areas that are not used by wintering birds. Other flocks could be seen flying north over Cold Bay and heading towards the lagoon. It won't be long now before we have many thousands of brant in the lagoon. In addition to the arrival of the brant, the common ravens and bald eagles are starting to build their nests. Spring has arrived at Izembek National Wildlife Refuge.

55 Counted 2693 brant on April 16 between the causeways on the west side of Point Roberts.

This year has been the worst year for brant use in Boundary Bay on the east side of Point Roberts (see the map at www.padillabay.gov/brant/sites/swanston.html). Numbers for March and April have been down dramatically in Boundary Bay. Previous Years have had numbers in the hundreds on a regular basis but this week the most I saw was 67.

Also, numbers in the area west of the marina at Point Roberts, Washington have remained low. At no time this or last year did they come close to the numbers observed in the previous years. Although the beach has somewhat returned to it's previous condition west of the marina, much of it is still covered with fine sand dumped in a beach enrichment project three years ago.

The only area showing normal spring populations in our area is between the causeways to the ferry terminal and coal dock. Unfortunately, this area is slated for development! Two new container docks will require years of construction work and dredging of large eelgrass beds.

Also between these causeways is an area that was created for bird habitat by dredging a small lagoon. Although numbers of brant using the lagoon are down, they used to only use the lagoon at high tide. Now they have been seen using the lagoon for feeding even during low tide and feeding on emerging salt marsh vegetation. It seems like injured birds prefer using this area.

House construction and bald eagles may have caused the decline of use at Boundary Bay Regional Park. Recreational use of the bay may also have an impact with boating, windsurfing, dogs running off leash, kayaking and just more people walking on the beach.

Percent juvenile data (18.6 %) are an average of 12 observations of groups varying in size from 11 to 116.

Yours, Richard Swanston Delta, B.C. Canada


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