Muriwai Gannet Colony

Some folk come for a stroll on the beach, others to surf or swim or fish. One of the greatest attractions at Muriwai Beach is the Gannet Colony. From August to March each year you can watch the busy comings and goings of the gannets - it is hugely entertaining. If you would like to know more about activities at Muriwai Beach and Regional Park, please click on one of the links below: (Ref. www.Muriwai.com) Gannets are seabirds comprising the genus Morus, in the family Sulidae, closely related to boobies. The gannets are large white birds with yellowish heads; black-tipped wings; and long bills. Northern gannets are the largest seabirds in the North Atlantic, with a wingspan of up to 2 metres (6.6 ft). The other two species occur in the temperate seas around southern Africa, southern Australia and New Zealand. Gannets hunt fish by diving from a height into the sea and pursuing their prey underwater. Gannets have a number of adaptations which enable them to do this: they have no external nostrils, they are located inside the mouth instead; they have air sacs in their face and chest under their skin which act like bubble wrapping, cushioning the impact with the water; their eyes are positioned far enough forward on their face to give them binocular vision, allowing them to judge distances accurately. Gannets can dive from a height of 30 metres (98 ft), achieving speeds of 100 kilometres per hour (62 mph) as they strike the water, enabling them to catch fish much deeper than most airborne birds. (Ref. Wikipedia) It was a pleasure to take the drive out to Muriwai Beach last weekend and visit the Gannet Colony there. I will be sure to visit there again soon. :)