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Cal Williams > Gannet Nesting Instincts Although gannets do not build as evident a nest as other species (the egg and the chick are held on the tops of the parent's feet) they do occasionally collect nesting materials to present to their mates upon their return to the nesting site. This bird has just pulled up (with much awkward flapping and effort) a beakful of grass. He/she then hopped off down the runway, going airborne and out to sea, and landed to wash the grass. After returning, we watched him/her walk around shaking the grass to dry it, then hop off into the colony (setting off the usual honking) to profer it to its mate.
Cal Williams > Young Gannet Pair Gannets generally mate for life before they return in their third year to the colony in which they hatched. Unable to produce an egg until their fifth year, like all teenagers they never-the-less practice, practice, practice! This pair of four-year-olds is being typically cute with their affections.
Cal Williams > Gannets - Lets Neck! These birds are exhibiting typical gannet “necking" behavior. Each time a bird returns from a fishing trip, he/she renews their affection with its mate in this way, clacking together and briskly rubbing their bills and twining their necks. Ranger/Naturalists say that this apparent affection helps to control the natural aggressiveness of the birds, allowing them to stay close to each other in their little circles.
Cal Williams > Gannet Landing Returning gannets land at a pretty high speed, honking desperately (Incoming, Incoming!) and somehow locate their mate and drop directly into that 80-centimeter circle he/she has reserved. This sets off yet another round of honking in the neighborhood.
Cal Williams > Gannet - Neck Up This gannet is preparing to go fishing by holding its neck straight up. This allows sacks in the neck to fill with air to stiffen it – otherwise the neck would break when diving after fish from 60 to 90 feet feet up. (Judging from the dead birds floating in the hunting areas near the island, this defense does not always work!) The departing bird causes much consternation and honking when it darts through the territories of other nesting pairs to reach a take-off strip at the edge of the colony. Surprisingly, the birds appear to be agile enough to avoid stomping any chicks.
Cal Williams > Gannets With Chick Adult pairs produce a single egg each nesting season, beginning in their fifth year. They have to feed their chick for three months - longer than any other bird. The parent regurgitates partially digested fish directly down the chicks gullet like a fire hose – after which the chick goes back to sleep on a parent’s feet until it is once again hungry. This chick is quite well developed - in other photos here you will see sleeping chicks that look like nothing more than a flattened mound of feathers!
Cal Williams > Gannet Head Closeup An attractive bird, the adult Northern Gannet is gleaming white with black wing tips, with an orange-buff tinged head. The bill is light blue, and the eye is blue/grey, surrounded by a bright blue lid and bare, black skin. The immature birds are dark brown in their first year, gradually acquiring more white in subsequent seasons until maturity at five years
Cal Williams > Gannet in Flight The Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus) is a goose-sized member of the Booby family. It is a long-winged bird, with a five to six foot wingspan, and is about 35 to 40 inches in length. It plunges spectacularly into the sea, from heights of 60 to 90 feet, in pursuit of fish. It often uses its large feet to propel itself back out of the water and into flight, with its catch.
Cal Williams > White-tailed Ptarmigan
Gannet Nesting Instincts

Although gannets do not build as evident a nest as other species (the egg and the chick are held on the tops of the parent's feet) they do occasionally collect nesting materials to present to their mates upon their return to the nesting site. This bird has just pulled up (with much awkward flapping and effort) a beakful of grass. He/she then hopped off down the runway, going airborne and out to sea, and landed to wash the grass. After returning, we watched him/her walk around shaking the grass to dry it, then hop off into the colony (setting off the usual honking) to profer it to its mate.
Cal Williams > Gannet Nesting Instincts Although gannets do not build as evident a nest as other species (the egg and the chick are held on the tops of the parent's feet) they do occasionally collect nesting materials to present to their mates upon their return to the nesting site. This bird has just pulled up (with much awkward flapping and effort) a beakful of grass. He/she then hopped off down the runway, going airborne and out to sea, and landed to wash the grass. After returning, we watched him/her walk around shaking the grass to dry it, then hop off into the colony (setting off the usual honking) to profer it to its mate.
Gannet Nesting Instincts

Although gannets do not build as evident a nest as other species (the egg and the chick are held on the tops of the parent's feet) they do occasionally collect nesting materials to present to their mates upon their return to the nesting site. This bird has just pulled up (with much awkward flapping and effort) a beakful of grass. He/she then hopped off down the runway, going airborne and out to sea, and landed to wash the grass. After returning, we watched him/her walk around shaking the grass to dry it, then hop off into the colony (setting off the usual honking) to profer it to its mate.
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All photographs in these galleries are © Cal Williams. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use prohibited.