MIGRATION PATTERNS OF BLACK BRANT IN BOUNDARY BAY, BRITISH-COLUMBIA

Management strategies to address population declines and changing patt erns of winter distribution of black brant (Branta bernicla nigricans) require a better understanding of timing of migration and mixing of m igrant and wintering birds along the Pacific Coast of North America. W e studied migration patterns of brant in Boundary Bay, British Columbi a, using population censuses and sightings of individually marked bird s during 1994-95 and 1995-96. There was no detectable turnover of indi viduals through the area in fall, and brant that first arrived in Boun dary Bay in November and early December stayed until at least the firs t week of March. The first spring transients appeared in mid-February 1995 and 1 week later in 1996. The first spring departures coincided w ith the opening of brant hunting in Boundary Bay in both years, sugges ting that early migrants stayed for a shorter period of time in 1996. Spring brant hunting could have adverse effects on reproductive succes s if migrants depart early from staging areas and opportunities to com pensate for decreased nutrient intake farther north are limited. The m ethods we used could be applied by managers in other areas to establis h local hunting regulations appropriate for both wintering and spring staging populations.