This gannet colony is on Cape Kidnappers near the [url=http://www.blipfoto.com/view.php?id=361786&month=9&year=2009]golf course[/url].

There are not many birds there at the moment as they fly to warmer climates (Australia or Bay on Islands in NZ) in April/May and return in August, but at the height of the season there are up to 20,000. They are late arriving this year – not sure why but there are not a lot of fish in the local seas so maybe they only return when the food is plentiful.

They are spectacular birds with a 2 metre wing span and look beautiful in [url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/35200801@N05/3894400503/in/set-72157622276954412/]flight[/url]. The males build the nest from seaweed, so many of them were flying into the colony with beaks laden with seaweed. They pair for life and are starting to lay eggs now which will hatch in 4 months time, then 4 months after that the chicks will make their first flight which is non stop to Australia, [url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/35200801@N05/3894376597/]returning[/url] 3-4 years later to nest. This colony is one of 4 at Cape Kidnappers, on a very exposed windy cliff edge