The Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus) is one of the largest seabirds on the Atlantic seaboard with an impressive wingspan of over 1.8 metres. I came across these guys at the Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve in Newfoundland and I have never seen so many birds in one location. At the height of their breeding season there could be as many as 24,000 gannets squashed on to this one small area and I must admit I was mesmerized when I came upon them. In Newfoundland the birds come to nest, but once the young have fledged and the weather starts to turn they head farther south down the East coast of North America and farther out in to the Atlantic for the winter. These impressive looking birds are able to detect fish in the water from great heights and then dive in to grab their prey. If necessary they can swim down to depths of up to 24 metres to catch a fish. Their eyes are their ‘superpower’ acting like a polarized lens to see fish through the glare off the water and enabling the to see underwater when swimming also.
Subscribe
What Can I Find For You Today?
What’s New!
Where You Can Find Me:
More to follow soon…
Work On Display
More to follow soon…
Archives