Gannets - A Photo Essay

[Tronhard]

By popular acclaim (well, actually because Vaez asked some questions and I thought I would offer this as a potential lesson for her pupils), I am expanding on the image that I showed recently, to explain more about the Gannet colony and the birds themselves.

Gannets are among the largest sea birds on the planet. The biggest are obviously the Albatross, of which we have a colony in NZ, on a peninsula near the city of Dunedin near the bottom of the South Island, making that the most accessible colony of its type in the world. Gannets are diving predators, plummeting into the ocean to attack prey, often balls of fish like sardines and mackerel. If you have seen any of the fabulous series by David Attendborough you will have seen how Gannets interact with dolphins and seals that drive prey to the surface where the gannets attack in numbers.

The Australasian gannets make their homes (predictably enough) between NZ and Australia. They come to NZ to mate and the fledglings, on their first flight, make the 2,000km trip to Australia, where they stay for several years before returning to NZ to breed. Quiet a few of our human kiwis do something similar actually...

The breeding season starts between August and October and lasts until February when the last birds migrate. Gannets lay a single egg that takes about 44 days to incubate and hatch. During that time the males and females share nesting responsibilities, fishing in the waters of the Tasman sea, made rich for all life by cold currents delivering nutrients from the depths.

Sadly, like all sea birds there has been a drop in numbers - our Royal Albatrosses are in the endangered category, and the common gull population is plummeting. This is due to several causes: over-fishing, changes in ocean currents reducing nutrient levels or types of fish in their territories and, massively, plastics that they pick up by mistake and fill their guts, causing them to literally starve to death. This is not unique to these birds, it is a world-wide phenomenon. Plastic rings, often used in many countries to hold pop cans together can end up around their necks so they cannot swallow their catch and starve that way.

So here are some shots of the gannets, taken by a variety of cameras and lenses over an extended period. All by me and all hand-held.


On the Wing. With a wingspan twice their body length, they are designed for efficiency in gliding.


From the side one can see the streamlined silhouette

The colony is rare in that it is on the mainland and easily accessible by road. Located on NZ's west coast, there is road access to the nearby Muriwai sufring beach to the north, with another road running to homes immediately above the colony peninsulas.


To the south lies a park area with beaches made of black sand, washed from the volcanic cone of Mt Taranaki several hundred km to the south.


In the photo above, taken outside the nesting season, one can see the peninsula where the colony lies (hidden at its tip behind the vegetation, along with several craggy islets off the coast. The visitors' car park is at the bottom of the image.


While access to the birds' nesting area is fenced off, there are a couple of viewing platforms from which one can get up close and personal with the birds, which (by and large) seem to ignore the many visitors.








Early mating rituals involve intricated, synchronized head bobbing


Eventually the bobbing turns to mutual grooming and caressing


And finally mating - not easy in a brisk breeze! Note the plastic used for nesting on the top right.


Then nest-building begins in earnest, with much competition for the best spots and materials.




At last an egg!


After a month and a half of incubation a fluffy chick appears - with an appetite that keeps both parents busy providing food and shelter from the sun.


The chick spends much of its time strengthening its flight muscles and gaining body mass


To pass the time gannets are quite fond of reading - in this case a discarded pamphlet encouraging visitors to take their litter...




During the day it's hot, smelly, crowded and busy, but sunset is a good time to get some great views.

[Tronhard]

They are very interesting birds and I feel privileged to have such easy access to them:

[Manfred M]

My you've been busy.

A well photographed and processed series.

[rpcrowe]

Wonderful series. Thanks for the information and for posting the pictures of these gorgeous birds...

[Rufus]

+1 to Richard's comment. This is a remarkable series.

The territories around the nests are very regular - they all appear to be very similiar distance from their neighbours.

[Shadowman]

Nice series.

[mugge]

I enjoyed your photos. Keep doing what you are doing.
Cheers Ole

[pnodrog]

Your photographs bring back many fond memories of my occasional visits to the colony at Muriwai. Thankfully you have avoided recording the noise and smell...

[Tronhard]

Your photographs bring back many fond memories of my occasional visits to the colony at Muriwai. Thankfully you have avoided recording the noise and smell...

I wouldn't say that I missed the noise and smell - I have photographed there in January when it is scorching hot and the smell is quite pungent. The poor birds were baking in the sun as they were stuck on their nests.

At this time of the year the colony is not crowded - lots more birds to arrive. What was frustrating was the hoards of coach-borne tourists who kept standing blocking the view as they took innumerable selfies. Most of them had no idea about the birds themselves, some even cross the fences to stand in the nests to get that Instagram shot. I gave them short shrift.

[pschlute]

Wonderful series, thanks for sharing.

[vaez]

Wonderful series. Thanks for the information and for posting the pictures
I very enjoyed your photos im happy love birds

[vaez]

I would like to thank you once again for the amazing photos
Excellent readable article
Yes, I must say to my students
I myself knew nothing about this bird
I hope to make a trip to this area
Its much more enjoyable to photograph

[Tronhard]

+1 to Richard's comment. This is a remarkable series.

The territories around the nests are very regular - they all appear to be very similiar distance from their neighbours.

Sorry about the slow response. Yes, the nests are spaced with almost mathematical precision - in due mostly because of the birds' strong sense of territory - and it gets pretty crowded in the colony from now on. Once the chicks hatch there are, of course, many more birds to occupy the same space. The chicks, as they grow, develop a large fluffy plumage that appears to make them larger then their parents.

[Tronhard]

I would like to thank you once again for the amazing photos
Excellent readable article
Yes, I must say to my students
I myself knew nothing about this bird
I hope to make a trip to this area
Its much more enjoyable to photograph

If you can ever make it over here you will receive a warm welcome - there are several CiC members in Auckland!

[vaez]

If you can ever make it over here you will receive a warm welcome - there are several CiC members in Auckland!

Thanks
I'm sure
as wellCiC