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| Barnacle Goose |
Barnacle Geese rarely are seen anywhere this far inland. Normally they breed on the North Atlantic coasts of Greenland and Russia’s Novaya Zembla and Vaygach islands. The Greenland population usually heads east for winter. They'll stay in Ireland, the Hebrides and Scotland. Sometimes they’ll reach England, Norway and the Baltics.
Lately an increasing number of the Barnacle Geese are heading to the west instead.
The Barnacle Goose is superficially similar to the Brant but they are separate species. The Barnacle Goose has a black neck and crown, with a cream-white face. The sides and flanks are black, and the belly, undertail coverts and rump are white, contrasting markedly with the black tail. The sexes are similar in appearance but males typically are larger. The average male stands 27 inches tall; the female, 24 inches.
Barnacle Geese feed on grasses and coastal plants found in salt marshes, grasslands near river estuaries or tidal mud flats.
The first recorded appearance of a Barnacle Goose in the Lehigh Valley occurred in March 1982 with a sighting in Lake Muhlenberg in Lehigh County. Since then only four sightings have been reported, according to Birds of the Lehigh Valley and Vicinity. This week's sighting is the fifth.
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| Barnacle Goose |
Barnacle Geese are becoming more frequent on the New Jersey coasts in winter, according to the New Jersey Audubon Society. The society even reported sightings inland at Highstown and Lake Mercer on December 13. Birders interested in seeing Barnacle Geese along the Jersey shore might wish to contact the New Jersey Audubon Society for advice.
In the past two weeks, Barnacle Geese have been reported in Farmingdale, Millers Pond and Smithtown, all on Long Island; East Windsor in Connecticut; and the Stuyvesant area along the Hudson River in New York City, according to E-bird.
Birders watch for the appearance of Barnacle Geese in Scotland and England each winter. The BBC reported that a 30-year-old banded bird was recently seen at Caerlaverock Wetland Centre in Scotland.
One theory about the increase in the number and range of Barnacle Geese is overpopulation. The warming of Greenland has created new habitat and feeding areas for the geese. They build their nests on mountain cliffs, away from Arctic foxes and other predators. The melting of glaciers has exposed more crags where Barnacle Geese can breed and more land where grasses can grow.
By the way, Barnacle Geese don’t carry barnacles. That’s a legend that dates back to the 13th century. The Welsh didn't see Barnacle Geese during the summer so they assumed that the birds were generated by barnacles during the warm months. They concluded that, because the geese originated from seafood, it was acceptable to eat the bird flesh during Lent. Pope Innocent III put an end to the practice. The pope decided that the birds actually were birds and therefore Catholics must abstain during Lent.
Other bird sightings for December 12
Several other bird species were reported to Dave DeReamus, of the Eastern PA Birdline, during the past week. The Birdline is sponsored by the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society. The birds include:
Williams Township, Northampton County
Harris’s Sparrow, 1 through at least December 10.
Beltzville State Park, Carbon County
Red-necked Geese, 1 on December 10.
Lake Muhlenberg, Lehigh County
Tundra Swan, 1 from November 22 through at least December 11.
Center Valley, Lehigh County
Red-tailed Hawk, 1 on December 7 (partly albino).
Lake Nockamixon, Bucks County
Red-necked Grebe, 1 from December 4 through at least December 8.
Peace Valley Park, Bucks County
Long-tailed Duck, 2 on December 4.
Red-necked Grebe, 1 from December 3 through at least December 6.
To report bird sightings to Dave DeReamus, send an e-mail to becard@rcn.com with the word "Birdline" in the subject heading.
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