A 'Rocky' Relationship
After being decimated by avian flu, the population of northern gannets on Bird Rock at Cape St. Mary's is slowly making a recovery. Of course, recovery requires mating and successful nesting. This image (big crop) shows bonding in progress. The male has just brought some seaweed, known as wrack or rockweed (Ascophyllum
nodosum), to the cliff-side nest site. It will be added to the simple nest they have made. Along with displaying the seaweed, there was some rubbing of necks and heads. That latter behaviour is shared with other species of seabirds, such as the common murre.
A 'Rocky' Relationship
After being decimated by avian flu, the population of northern gannets on Bird Rock at Cape St. Mary's is slowly making a recovery. Of course, recovery requires mating and successful nesting. This image (big crop) shows bonding in progress. The male has just brought some seaweed, known as wrack or rockweed (Ascophyllum
nodosum), to the cliff-side nest site. It will be added to the simple nest they have made. Along with displaying the seaweed, there was some rubbing of necks and heads. That latter behaviour is shared with other species of seabirds, such as the common murre.