Birds and Birding's Guide to:

Watching THE STORK-LIKE BIRDS

THE GANNETS (Family Sulida)

Common Gannet

The family Sulida is clearly a very old one, for not less than four fossil species have been described from the Miocene age, three coming from France and one, a very well marked species, from North Carolina.

At the present time eleven species are recognized, of which number some four or five are found along the North American coasts. One of the most abundant and best-known species, and the Gannet par excellence, is the Common Gannet (Sula bassana), a bird of the coasts of the North Atlantic, coming south in winter to the Gulf of Mexico, and on the European side to North Africa, Madeira, and the Canary Islands. One of the most celebrated of the nesting places is the Bass Rock at the entrance of the Firth of Forth, Scotland. Here Macgillivray, in 1831, estimated that 10,000 pairs were breeding, and this number is said by Hudson (1895) to be still maintained.

Although the Bass Rock has been often described and must be familiar to many, I venture to quote, from Mr. Charles Dixon, a very graphic account of a visit to this spot: “Upon reaching the Bass a few Gannets may be seen sailing dreamily about, but you have no idea of the immense numbers until you have climbed the rugged hill.

But when the summit of the cliff is reached the scene that bursts upon one's gaze is one that well-nigh baffles all description. Thousands upon thousands of Gannets fill the air, just like heavy snowflakes, and on every side their loud, harsh cries of 'carra-carra-carra,' echo and reecho among the rocks. The Gannets take very little notice of our approach, many birds allowing themselves to be actually pushed from their nests.

Others utter harsh notes, and with flapping wings offer some show of resistance, only taking wing when absolutely compelled to do so, and disgorging one or two half-digested fish as they fall lightly over the cliffs into the air. On all sides facing the sea Gannets may be seen.

Some are standing on the short grass on the edge of the cliffs, fast asleep, with their heads buried under their dorsal plumage; others are preening their feathers; whilst many are quarreling and fighting over standing-room on the rocks."

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