Atlantic Brant Amazing Travel

R

Randy Duda

Active member
Driving to work this am I came over a Bridge to my office, the Bridge spans a fair sized tidal river called the Navesink River. Mid span a small flight of paired up Brant came busting over the top, twisting and turning agitated like a washing machine- seems they really do not like to fly over man made structures! on the other side I noted about 45 or so birds swimming into a flat to eat sea lettuce and what ever else they could find in the shallow water buffet. It struck me that I have been watching Brant for a long time.. 40+ years now.. and they never stop amazing me! I have shot birds banded in locations from up in the artic circle I can not even pronounce! These birds here today will be hundreds if not thousands of miles north of here in a short time to nest and rear young, only to reverse this path in SEPTEMBER!!! That's 4 months from now!!! I will not get into the perils they face but just the thought of all that energy and effort to get up there and back... WOW. Just wanted to share my thoughts... TGIF! as we batten down for another Nor Easter.. Have a great weekend!
 
Randy~

One of my great privileges - back was I was a waterfowl biologist for NYSDEC - was to work with this grand bird. I have banded thousands of Brant - and even helped Austin Reed (CWS) band a bunch on Baffin Island in the early 80s.

One of my great regrets is leaving behind - on Long Island - all of my slide shows, including both rocket netting Brant on LI and corraling them in the Arctic. There is now no trace of the show. Nowadays - with digital cameras - making my own set would have gone without saying. Back then, reproducing a set of slides was a budget breaker - both for me personally and for DEC.

And, yes, mid-May is when we would watch Brant leave Great South Bay each spring.

All the best,

SJS
 
Randy~

One of my great privileges - back was I was a waterfowl biologist for NYSDEC - was to work with this grand bird. I have banded thousands of Brant - and even helped Austin Reed (CWS) band a bunch on Baffin Island in the early 80s.

One of my great regrets is leaving behind - on Long Island - all of my slide shows, including both rocket netting Brant on LI and corraling them in the Arctic. There is now no trace of the show. Nowadays - with digital cameras - making my own set would have gone without saying. Back then, reproducing a set of slides was a budget breaker - both for me personally and for DEC.

And, yes, mid-May is when we would watch Brant leave Great South Bay each spring.

All the best,

SJS
Click to expand...

They are amazing birds. The netting and banding for science sounds great! Only thing better would be getting to shoot them for science!
 
Out on the east end of LI, we never had a population of brant. Got to hunt with a few members shooting a few times and had a great time. The limit was decreased and really didn't pursue them again.
After I get my back done, would like to help do banding. Worked at a private preserve and banded and took care of birds. Was great fun, but not a job for me.
 
They're one of my favorite waterfowl. In recent years a group has taken up residence in my town each winter. I saw a bunch yesterday but expect them to leave any day now. I love watching them, such an elegant bird.
 
Good morning, Tod~

As a matter of fact.....

In the early 80s, we were called upon to assist a Patuxent researcher in "collecting" 40 Brant one February. He was doing genetics work and required a variety of fluids and tissues - such that "catch-and-release" was not an option. We spent Day 1 with the rocket net. We had learned that such nets were very effective when the temperatures were south of 25 or so Fahrenheit - but challenging, to say the least, when in the balmy mid-40s. Our best efforts yielded a mere dozen birds as I recall.

So, Day 2 relied upon my Brant rig. If I recall correctly, we launched at Point Lookout and rigged on Ingraham Hassock - and waited for that magical falling tide. I potted a few birds but let the sport/scientist take the lion's share of shots. His Browning O/U did yeoman service - and we came back to the ramp with the requisite 28 birds.

Not too many days like that in a 36-year career - but I did "super gun" Mallards in Saskatchewan for 3 weeks one spring - the subject of yet another "lost" slide show.

Have gun, will travel.

SJS
 
Good morning, Tod~

As a matter of fact.....

In the early 80s, we were called upon to assist a Patuxent researcher in "collecting" 40 Brant one February. He was doing genetics work and required a variety of fluids and tissues - such that "catch-and-release" was not an option. We spent Day 1 with the rocket net. We had learned that such nets were very effective when the temperatures were south of 25 or so Fahrenheit - but challenging, to say the least, when in the balmy mid-40s. Our best efforts yielded a mere dozen birds as I recall.

So, Day 2 relied upon my Brant rig. If I recall correctly, we launched at Point Lookout and rigged on Ingraham Hassock - and waited for that magical falling tide. I potted a few birds but let the sport/scientist take the lion's share of shots. His Browning O/U did yeoman service - and we came back to the ramp with the requisite 28 birds.

Not too many days like that in a 36-year career - but I did "super gun" Mallards in Saskatchewan for 3 weeks one spring - the subject of yet another "lost" slide show.

Have gun, will travel.

SJS
Click to expand...

I'm glad that you got to experience that - it is an amazing experience over your own rig. Rather than an O/U a semiauto with extended mag tube works well (note my profile photo). - now that is something to experience, especially if your shooting eye is on! :).
 
They've been hanging around later and later.....it's not unusual to have them here on LI into Memorial Day....I'm looking at two pair in my yard as I write this..
 
Just watched a big flock feeding in the fields near Point Lookout this past week. I remarked to myself..they'll be leaving soon only to basically turn around and head back!
 
I've been watching them all winter long in Camman Pond in Merrick. I was amazed at the number of birds this year and chuckled because they out numbered the geese, and the geese just sort of watched them at a distance, like the Brandt were unruly teenagers that invaded their territory.

Capt. Rich - Good luck with the back and hope to see you soon
 
Jamaica bay in Queens I see some of them till June.
It would be nice to see a few these birds get tracking devices to see how it affects the spring hatch.
 
hey there people. sorry for posting to an old thread but I'm thinking to have a travel to Atlantic Brant with my new car (tires https://neotires.com/carlisle-tires) and I wanted to talk with people who've been there to get more advices. thanks!
 
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