DUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS: Family Anatidae [ 12.9 ] 



strictly a maritime species that remains on the ocean and the salt-water 

 bays. 



The Black Brant, a late migrant, seldom appears in numbers on the 

 Oregon coast until December or January. From then on, its numbers 

 increase up to the time of its departure for the north in April. Our earliest 

 record is November 15 (Tillamook County); latest, May 2. (Coos County). 

 During its stay it remains at sea or in the bays that contain an abundance 

 of eelgrass (Zostera marina), which makes up a large percentage of its diet. 

 Yaquina, Netarts, and Tillamook are the favorite bays with the Black 

 Brant, so far as our personal experience goes, and in the late winter great 

 rafts of these geese can be seen congregated about the eelgrass patches in 

 those waters. 



Emperor Goose: 



Philacte canagica (Sevastianoff) 



DESCRIPTION. "Bill small and not much elevated at base, mainly light colored, 

 bluish or pinkish white above; pit of nostrils reaching feathers of forehead; feet 

 orange. Adults: head and back of neck white or stained with rusty orange; chin and 

 throat dusky or brownish black; rest of plumage, except white tail, bluish gray, each 

 feather with a black bar and white tip. Young: similar to adult, but whole head 

 dusky, specked with white on top." (Bailey) Downy young: "Mr. Blaauw (1916) 

 says: The chick in down is of a beautiful pearl-gray, darkest on the head and upper 

 side and lighter below. The legs and bill are black.' A larger downy young, about 

 the size of a teal, in the United States National Museum, has probably faded some; 

 the upper parts vary in color from 'bister' to 'buffy brown' and the under parts from 

 'smoke gray' to 'olive buff'." (Bent) Si^e: Length 2.6, wing 14.30-15.75, bill 1.40- 

 1.65." (Bailey) Nest: On the ground. Eggs: About 5, white with fine pale-brown 

 dots. 



DISTRIBUTION. General: Breeds on northwest coast of Alaska. Winters primarily in 

 Aleutian Islands, straggling southward to California. In Oregon: More or less regular 

 straggler to coast and inland points between October and mid-February. 



THE BEAUTIFULLY marked Emperor Goose, the most striking of all the 

 species that visit the State, was first found by Alex Walker, who took a 

 specimen on December 31, 192.0, at Netarts Bay. The second specimen was 

 reported by Steele (192.4) as taken near Eugene, October 7, 192.3. Jewett 

 has the third, which was obtained by C. E. Edner near Netarts on Decem- 

 ber 3, 19^3. Since that time there have been a number of specimens from 

 Lane, Lincoln, Multnomah, and Tillamook Counties. It has also been 

 taken frequently in the Sacramento Valley and at Tule Lake. The number 

 that drift south to Oregon seems to be increasing in recent years, at least 

 more of them are being reported (earliest date, October 3 ; latest, February 

 17). The Emperor Geese usually arrive here as single birds mingling with 

 other species or in small bands of three to six. The general bluish color 

 and whitish head distinguish them from other geese, and they are con- 

 sequently quickly noticed by any one who happens to kill one. 



