Brace for impact, fans of the feather, these thrill-seeking sensations wait for no one!
With their aerodynamic physique, pinpoint accuracy and long, sharp beaks, it’s thought Gannets inspired the game of darts. Entirely made-up facts aside, these stunning blue-eyed, bright-white birds are spectacular high-divers and superb underwater swimmers, chasing down fish up to 30m below the surface!
Gannets mate for life, and pairs reaffirm their bond each year with a ritualistic dance. They also give gifts such as blades of grass and cheap bunches of flowers purchased from the local petrel station. For BoTY, the species will recreate its beak-smacking hunting dive.
This fearless feeding frenzy sees these unbreakable birds plunge into the sea from heights of up to 24 metres – that’s as tall as a 6-story building! Plus, during the dive, Gannets endure g-forces greater than those experienced by astronauts at launch. When asked how they’re feeling ahead of the performance, one Gannet simply said... nothing and vomited.
Gannets have special air sacs behind their head, neck and chest to cushion the impact of their amazing high dives.
Gannets can be left or right winged, which influences the way they roll into a dive and vote during general elections.
‘Alcatraz’ is the Spanish word for Gannet and gave its name to the famous prison island after explorer Juan Manual de Ayala incorrectly ID’d its resident pelicans or cormorants.
Gannets have faced an almighty battle just to make it to the Bird of the Year final. The species is one of many seabirds severely impacted by avian flu, a deadly disease that has decimated many of the UK’s seabird colonies in recent years.
This includes on Scotland’s Bass Rock, where 26% of one of the world’s largest Gannet colonies perished from avian flu in 2022. The birds are also under pressure from climate change, which affects food availability, and inappropriately placed offshore wind developments, which can be a deadly barrier to foraging and breeding grounds.
It’s not all doom and gloom though! This year, we added Bass Rock to our network of nature reserves, and along with the Scottish Seabird Centre, are working to secure a brighter future for the island’s birds. We also engage in the planning of offshore wind developments and continue to research the impacts of avian flu.
