Anne Belton Photography
Gannets on Bonaventure Island, Quebec. This is a National Park, where after an 1.5 hour climb you can sit right at the edge of a huge Gannet colony. These photos are taken in early June when Gannets were building nests, and laying eggs.
Gannets mate for life and return to the same nest every year. one wonders if the one pointing his/her head into the sky is signaling to a mate "here I am" or if he/she has lost a mate over the winter and is signaling "I am available".
When one arrives with something for the nest there is a show of "necking" - which seems to culminate in preening each other around the neck and bill area. The feather appears to have some significance - it is held by both for awhile then put in the nest.
Only 1 egg is laid and carefully guarded by the female.
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If one lands in the wrong place fights can be quite aggressive!
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