Barnacle Goose

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The Barnacle Goose (Branta leucopsis) belongs to the genus Branta of black geese, which contains species with largely black plumage, distinguishing them from the grey Anser species. Despite its superficial outward similarity to the Brent Goose, genetic analysis has shown it is an eastern deriative of the Cackling Goose lineage. It is easily identified by its largely black plumage and white face. Its call is a "kaw".

Barnacle Geese breed mainly on the Arctic islands of the North Atlantic. There are three main populations, with separate breeding and wintering ranges; from west to east:

Breeding in eastern Greenland, wintering on the Hebrides of western Scotland and in western Ireland. Population about 40,000.
Breeding on Svalbard, wintering on the Solway Firth on the England/Scotland border. Population about 24,000.
Breeding on Novaya Zemlya, wintering in the Netherlands. Population about 130,000.
A new fourth population, derived from the Novaya Zemlya population, has become established since 1975 breeding on the Baltic Sea islands (Estonia, Finland, Denmark, and Sweden), and wintering in the Netherlands. Population about 8,000.

Barnacle Geese frequently build their nests high on mountain cliffs; away from predators (primarily Arctic Foxes and Polar Bears) but also away from food. Instead of bringing food to the newly hatched goslings, the goslings are brought to the ground. Unable to fly, the three day old goslings jump off the cliff and fall; their small size and very light weight protects them from serious injury when they hit the ground. They are then led by the parents to nearby wetland feeding areas.

Small numbers of feral birds, derived from escapes from zoo collections, also breed in several other north European countries.

The Barnacle Goose is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.

Mythology

The English name of this species, and the scientific name of the Brent Goose (B. bernicla) and the Goose Barnacle, come from the old fable that Barnacle Geese were produced from barnacles, organisms that grow on timber exposed to salt water. This was logical since these geese were never seen in summer, when they were supposedly developing underwater (they were actually breeding in remote Arctic regions). The legend was also convenient, because it enabled Catholics to classify these geese as fish and therefore to eat their flesh during Lent.

References

BirdLife International (2004). [Branta leucopsis]. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern

External links

[RSPB A to Z of UK Birds]

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