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Archive 2013 · Northern Gannets at Bonaventure Island, Quebec (9)

  
 
dbehrens
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Northern Gannets at Bonaventure Island, Quebec (9)


This is my 4th trip to Bonaventure Island in the Gaspe region of Quebec. There are over 100,000 pairs of nesting Gannets there, which makes this a fun and exciting shoot. Normally I focus on BIF but this time I was trying to isolate more Gannet behavior – which is a challenge when you try to isolate a couple of birds in a sea of thousands! Anyway – here are some pics with commentaries. I hope you enjoy. My 4 year collection taken at different times (mating, egg laying, rearing young) can be found here.


Dave

(1) Gannets mate for life and have very strong and affectionate bonds for each other. On the contrary side they have little tolerance for unwelcomed guests. Therefore, first and foremost the nests are equally spaced – just out of pecking reach of each other. This makes landing a challenge. How they differentiate from each other from the air is a mystery to me. You will notice in this picture the landing Gannet is being “welcomed” by the nesting females ready to peck if this male lands in the wrong spot. (I’m assuming the females are the ones on the nests)
http://www.pbase.com/dbehrens/image/151553458/original.jpg

(2) Landing – that is another challenge. Gannets live at sea and only come to land to mate and raise their offspring. Consequently these graceful fliers (with 6 feet wingspan) are terrible landers and many times land with a loud thump! Once again you will notice the nesting females ready to hen-peck the landing male if he’s not their mate.
http://www.pbase.com/dbehrens/image/151553461/original.jpg

(3) I need to add an older pic of what I mean by hen pecking when the male lands at the wrong spot!
http://www.pbase.com/dbehrens/image/127015250/original.jpg

(4) However, once landed at the right spot the male will many times grab the female at the back of her neck.
http://www.pbase.com/dbehrens/image/151553455/original.jpg

(5) Then they go into their signature ritual of softly striking beak to beak. This could go on for several minutes.
http://www.pbase.com/dbehrens/image/151553454/original.jpg

(6) Here is a proud mom with her chick.
http://www.pbase.com/dbehrens/image/151553462/original.jpg

(7) Some of the nesting females like to challenge their neighbors.
http://www.pbase.com/dbehrens/image/151553457/original.jpg

(8) A male bringing home nesting material.
http://www.pbase.com/dbehrens/image/151553456/original.jpg

(9) Inbound!
http://www.pbase.com/dbehrens/image/151553459/original.jpg



Jul 28, 2013 at 10:51 AM
Shasoc
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Northern Gannets at Bonaventure Island, Quebec (9)


A very nice set of great behavioral shots, Dave. You did good on the exposure
Socrate



Jul 28, 2013 at 12:03 PM
morris
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Northern Gannets at Bonaventure Island, Quebec (9)


Great set Dave,

1, 3, 5 and the last are my picks

Morris



Jul 28, 2013 at 12:04 PM
dhb820
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Northern Gannets at Bonaventure Island, Quebec (9)


Very nice series, and very informational. Thanks for sharing.


Jul 28, 2013 at 12:22 PM
David Leask
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Northern Gannets at Bonaventure Island, Quebec (9)


Very nice set Dave. We have a gannet colony on Bass Rock, very close to me here in Scotland and my visit there was very much like yours. They are entertaining birds to watch and photograph. You have done them proud here.
David



Jul 28, 2013 at 12:23 PM
Plinian
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Northern Gannets at Bonaventure Island, Quebec (9)


Great set, Dave! It's a privilege to see these remarkable birds, and your images capture that experience very well. ~Greg


Jul 28, 2013 at 12:46 PM
kmunroe
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Northern Gannets at Bonaventure Island, Quebec (9)


very nice indeed Dave


Jul 28, 2013 at 01:59 PM
tfoltz
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Northern Gannets at Bonaventure Island, Quebec (9)


Very nice set, great looking birds

-Tim



Jul 28, 2013 at 04:39 PM
surfnron
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Northern Gannets at Bonaventure Island, Quebec (9)


Very nice shots Dave, and a good show of their behavior ~ Ron


Jul 28, 2013 at 07:42 PM
dorian
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Northern Gannets at Bonaventure Island, Quebec (9)


some really good shot here dave. i particularly like the squawking birds in #7 and the last shot. the eyes in both of those really steal the show! i was just in newfoundland shooting at a huge gannet colony and i will second your feeling that shooting in a large nesting colonies is surprisingly difficult. there are so many birds getting a clear shot can be really tough.

dorian



Jul 28, 2013 at 07:50 PM
KCollett
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Northern Gannets at Bonaventure Island, Quebec (9)


Nice set David. Gannets are fun to shoot for lots of reasons (one being they are big enough for me to focus on while in flight). I like the behaviour you have captured.


Jul 29, 2013 at 07:45 AM
Tim Kuhn
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Northern Gannets at Bonaventure Island, Quebec (9)


Super set David, I was going to go there last year but I had to change my plans. Someday. I hear what you are saying about isolating a single bird in a giant colony like that!!!

Tim



Jul 29, 2013 at 08:19 AM
Rob Tillyer
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Northern Gannets at Bonaventure Island, Quebec (9)


Wow, great job Dave. Thanks for all the info as well.

Rob



Jul 29, 2013 at 09:04 AM
waldr_p
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Northern Gannets at Bonaventure Island, Quebec (9)


Superb set Dave, very nice captures of these birds and informative too.

Paul.



Jul 29, 2013 at 02:03 PM
dbehrens
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Northern Gannets at Bonaventure Island, Quebec (9)


Thanks for all the comments. All I can say is that if you get the chance to visit the Gannets at Bonaventure Island you will not regret the experience. I will leave you with a picture my wife took of an earlier trip. So many times she is taking pictures of me taking pictures. But as they say a picture is worth a thousand words - and in this case all I can say is fun-meter is pegged!!!
Dave
http://www.pbase.com/dbehrens/image/113894043/original.jpg



Jul 29, 2013 at 09:50 PM





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