New Zealand
| The Gannet Colony
at Muriwai Beach is one of two mainland colonies in New Zealand. The
other colony is at Cape Kidnappers, Poverty Bay, near Gisborne, and it can
be approached only at low water along the beach, a several kilometre walk,
or overland by commercial expedition.
The Colony at Muriwai Beach is easy to get to and now has several locations from which the birds can be viewed. There are information plaques in various locations. Some years ago, the Muriwai Colony was located only on the offshore Oiaia Island, but as the numbers increased the birds first colonised the small island near "Flat Rock", then the southern headland, and more recently the small headland above "Flat Rock". These photographs were taken over the breeding season of the summer of 1986-1987. © 2000; Alan Torrance |
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Nesting occurs from as early as August. Nests on
these rocky, windswept headlands are made of grasses, seaweed and other
items which are scavenged by these magnificent birds. They will even
steal material from a neighbouring nest — if they can. Gannets are
highly territorial and skirmishes will erupt from time to time between
birds if one thinks its territory is being infringed upon.
The pair centre-frame are not skirmishing. They are "paddling" (mating). |
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Preening is part of gannet behaviour and helps reinforce the bond which is made for life. Nesting sites tend to be returned to each season by each pair. |
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This bird has moved off the nest momentarily to check the egg. Normally these are kept under the bird which is guarding the nest. Both partners share the parenting duties fully — sitting on the nest and also finding food. |
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Several chicks are shown here (with adults). Note the chick's lack of adult colouring. |
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Chick being fed by parent. |
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When one bird returns to the nest, an elaborate ritual of
greeting occurs. This involves both birds entwining their
necks — giving an entirely new shade to the word
"necking". This helps reinforce the pair
bonding.
A bird returning to the nesting site will frequently abort its landing run and "go round again" if the conditions are not right. They judge their approach quite accurately and "drop in" almost right by the nest. If they misjudge and have to cross by other nests, they will be attacked by the other birds which are highly territorial. Sometimes a bird will attempt to steal nesting material from a neighbour's nest. This also will provoke retaliation. |
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Gannet in flight. Adults have a wingspan of
approximately 1 metre. They are strong flyers and subsequent to
their leaving the nest in February, they fly down to the water where they
feed voraciously on fish and ultimately make their way westward to
Australia from where they return some eight years later to their old
site. In a growing colony the young adults will need to find new
places to make their nests as the one where they fledged will normally
still be occupied by the parents. The young adults in their first year back will usually find a mate with which they form a life-long partnership. |
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A bird leaving the nesting site will often make its way to the edge of the cliff and just "drop off", spreading its wings as it does so. |
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Adult preening its chick. Note the fluffy white down and lack of adult colours. |
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Paddling (mating) |
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Three juveniles in the foreground are now big enough to look after themselves while both parents are away finding food for their young. At this stage they eat huge quantities of food. |
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Juvenile begging for food from newly returned parent (both of the parents are at the rear). |
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Do you notice how long the beaks are? Note down is being shed and chick is acquiring juvenile feathers and colours |
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Juvenile stretching its wings and practising some adult behaviour. It won't be long before this one leaves the nest. This normally occurs February - March. |
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