Hatched!
The northern gannet is one incredible sea bird. Breeding pairs of northern gannets form lifelong partnerships and return each spring to mate with the same partner and at the same colony. Once their young have left the nest, the parents separate until the following spring. During the non-breeding portion of the year, they go their separate ways, and live completely separate lives. Remarkably, the same two birds can find each other amongst thousands! The naturalist who told me this had no idea how that is possible. Yet, somehow, they find each other amongst the thousands of migrating birds each spring and share responsibilities for raising their young. Their life span is roughly 30 years.
Bird Rock at Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve is a world class nature preserve and is promoted as “The most accessible seabird rookery in North America”.
Hatched!
The northern gannet is one incredible sea bird. Breeding pairs of northern gannets form lifelong partnerships and return each spring to mate with the same partner and at the same colony. Once their young have left the nest, the parents separate until the following spring. During the non-breeding portion of the year, they go their separate ways, and live completely separate lives. Remarkably, the same two birds can find each other amongst thousands! The naturalist who told me this had no idea how that is possible. Yet, somehow, they find each other amongst the thousands of migrating birds each spring and share responsibilities for raising their young. Their life span is roughly 30 years.
Bird Rock at Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve is a world class nature preserve and is promoted as “The most accessible seabird rookery in North America”.