Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
Flocks of brant (Branta bernicla) family groups were easily excitable and quarrelsome. They scrambled into flight at the approach of an airplane as well as an avian predator. Later, following family group disintegration, only low flying aircraft disturbed the large amorphous flocks. In September there were no juveniles unattached to family groups. Between 23 September and 18 October, the degree of interaction in these flocks clearly increased, as did the disposition to fly at the approach of an airplane. When family breakup was complete, the population was composed of a relatively few very large flocks with all age groups represented; hostile encounters were rare and the flock was not disturbed by an approaching airplane.
U.S. Department of the Interior |
U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/literatr/disturb/bibli108.htm
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