Air show spectacular:Muriwai's daredevil gannets and dramatic coastline are a treat for nature watchers

摘要

Every August to March, about 1200 breeding pairs of Morus senator, also known as the Australasian gannet or takapu, come to nest at Muriwai in a maelstrom of wild calling and aerobatics. The best time to visit them is from October to February, particularly when there is a good breeze to get them flying up level with the viewing platforms.The chicks hatch in November then leave for Australia after 15 weeks, returning three years later. The colony is busiest in December, when growing chicks demand feeding and the parents are hard at work providing what they can. One of their most dramaticfishing behaviours is diving into the sea from about 30 metres, at anything up to 145kmh.Van Haresnape, one of three full-time park rangers for the area, says: "I used to wonder why the birds chose such a lonely, exposed headland for their colony then I thought it was because it was not so accessible to predators. I have since found out it has more to do with thermodynamics -the air currents provide plenty of lift for the young birds."