BARNACLE GOOSE 

 ( Branta leucopsls ) 



[DA: Bramgas, DU: Brandgans, FI: Valkoposkihanhi , FR: Bernache nonnette, GE: 

 Weisswangengans , IC : Helsingi, IT: Oca facciabianca , NW: Kvitkinngas, PO: Bern- 

 lkla bialolica, RU: (White-cheeked Goose), SP: Barnacla cariblanca, Ganso de 

 collar; SW: Vitklndad gas] 



GENERAL DISTRIBUTION 



The Barnacle Goose is an Old World species, breeding in Greenland and on 

 Spitsbergen and Novaya Zerayla in the Baerents Sea. It winters in northern Eu- 

 rope (Salomonsen 1950, Cramp et al. 1977, Johnsgard 1978). The species is of 

 only casual occurrence in North America (AOU 1957), and some of the records here 

 may be of birds escaped from captivity. There are seven records for North Caro- 

 lina, ranging from 1870 (Wray and Davis 1959) to 1972 (Grant 1972). There were 

 two observations, of three birds, in Alabama in 1969 and 1970 (Imhof 1976b), and 

 there are three reports from Texas, 1968-71 (Webster 1971a, Oberholser 1974). 



SUSCEPTIBILITY TO OIL POLLUTION 



Barnacle Geese have been recorded as affected by oil in at least one in- 

 stance. About 200 oil-smeared Barnacle Geese (out of over 9,000) were found 

 after the release of fuel oil into the Amer River in the Netherlands in Decem- 

 ber 1970 (Ouweneel 1971). The proportion of oiled Barnacle Geese was consider- 

 ably less than in other species of geese present. Due to the rarity of this 

 bird in the southeastern United States, the effect of oil pollution in this 

 area should be of little concern. 



BIBLIOGRAPHY 



1980 



Brandt, H. 1980. Weiswanganganse , Branta leucopsis , auf den Kooser Wiesen. 

 [Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis at the Kooser Plain.] Beitr. Vogelkd. 

 26: 239. [In German. ] 



Butler, P. J. and A. J. Woakes. 1980. Heart rate, respiratory frequency and 

 wing beat frequency of free flying Barnacle Geese Branta leucopsis . J. 

 Exper. Biol. 85: 213-226. 



Jukema, J., 0. Rijpma and D. Hollenga. 1980. In Friesland een waarschi jnli jke 

 hybride van Roodhalsgans ( Branta ruficollis ) en Brandgas ( Branta leucopsis . 

 [A probable hybrid of Red-breasted Goose Branta ruficollis and Barnacle 

 Goose Branta leucopsis in Friesland.] Watervogels 5: 38-39. [In Dutch 

 with English summary.] 



114 



