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AUSTRALASIAN GANNET COLONY

on 19th May 2013

“On 11th January 2013, I visited the tip of Farewell Spit, South Island, New Zealand to admire a colony of Australasian Gannets (Morus serrator, Maori name: Takapu) established on a sandy and windy location (above).

“There was heavy air traffic at this site, as birds frequently landed and took off, just like a busy international airport (above).

“Within this colony, a number of bonded pairs were already prominent. Whenever one partner returns to reunite with its other half, I could detect a sense of anticipation and acknowledgement between them (above).

Bonding between pairs is regularly reinforced through a diversity of displays and gestures. Such affectionate behaviour includes simultaneous raising and waving of their heads (above).

Sightings of gannets returning with clumps of seaweed (for nesting material) in their bills provided indications to the onset of breeding activity in this colony.

A brief video clip of the gannet colony may be previewed above.”

Dr. Leong Tzi Ming
Singapore
17th February 2013

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

Other posts by YC Wee

One Response

  1. Tzi Ming,

    I remember visiting the same place some time in 1998/99. We had to go by 4WD bus to the site. Quite a ride to get to the site. The smell is out of this world. Took me a while to be polite and get down the bus and join the guide. The rest of the travel agents just stayed on the bus.

    It is really quite a sight to be so close to the gannets.

    We also had the opportunity to see a nesting albatross somewhere near Dunedin.

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