Muriwai Beach part 2 - Meet some Muriwai Gannets!

There is a Gannet Colony on Muriwai Beach. I will have more about this colony later, however here are some out standing pilots of the Bird World.

Gannets are bold, brave and clever and gifted. They are also one of the fastest fliers and best swimmers. If Gannets could they would be the best swimming intructors, but we don’t have the equipment they do.

I don’t know if their parents teach them to fly, but every thing they do in this life is risky business! Just to catch a fish.

Gannets dive headfirst and move at least 170 miles an hour. They then catch the fish with speed. They paddle with their feet to get a fish. Gannets are made with inbuilt crash helmets to survive hitting the water at that speed and they have at least 2 eye lids to preserve their eyes.

#1 Three Gannets over water

These birds use their bird intuition, they don't need a flight tower or controllers. They do it all themselves. They know where they are and where to go. Some are parents returning to feed their children.

The island in the background is home to some gannets but not this one. That island has seals on it and also Blue penguins.

I was told that but doubt if anyone can get there to view it, except those who have the right boats and equipment to go.

These Gannets fly so fast they are hard to catch on camera.

This was a lucky shot.

I don't understand Gannet speech but it's demanding and nervous talk. If you saw their circumstances or what they have to do, you would not be surprised.

However, I suspect he or she is fighting to claim their own ground space and they are strict about that too.

Now do you understand why these birds are nervous. Who wouldn't be if your first flight was down a 100 foot cliff with no safety net?

Right from the word "Go" they risk everything to get food to eat.

Im not sure whether flying is for fun or sheer survival. They are masters in the air and fly about 500 miles a day. They just glide in the air and are fabulous to watch.