Naturally West: The gannet: acrobat of the skies; Weather by the moon

Though we seldom see a gannet fly over our neighbourhood, just an hour north, at Muriwai, is a long-established gannet colony that can be viewed at close quarters, one of only three mainland sanctuaries in the North Island.

It is some years since I have had the pleasure of visiting this colony, although I do enjoy watching the gannets at our favourite Coromandel beach haunt over the summer months. I love watching them cruising the coastline and then, lured by the silver glint of a fish, see them suddenly dive downward, entering the water at speeds of up to 100km/h, to re-emerge gulping down the fish they caught.

This manoeuvre never fails to amaze me: the fact that they survive thousands of these spectacular dives without breaking their necks is matched by my amazement that they can execute the dive fast enough to catch the fish.

For this reason, and their rather beautiful appearance with orange head and ‘eyelinered’ eyes, the Australasian gannet or tākapu is one of my favourite seabirds. They are classified as a native species and not threatened which is encouraging. It is interesting that New Zealand holds the vast majority of the Australasian gannet breeding population, with just 13% of the population breeding in Australia.

It is not unusual to see tākapu if you are out boating on the Manukau harbours where sometimes dozens can be seen diving on a school of fish but the Muriwai colony is somewhere you can get to see them up close. The bonus is here you not only see the adults but the chicks too, born naked but sporting fluffy down within a week.

At different times of the year the colony provides multiple viewing and photo opportunities, starting at nesting time in August with their elaborate mating rituals.

The breeding population reaches a peak in November, with each pair hatching just one chick, and sharing nesting duties. From December to February you can watch the chicks get fed and then in March and April the juveniles leave the nest.

They need to have mastered the concept of flight by exercising their juvenile wings in anticipation of their maiden voyage. The alternative is a fatal drop off a high cliff. The young gannets then leave the colony and cross the Tasman to Australia, returning several years later to secure a nest site at the colony.

Given the nests are just centimetres apart, it is another credit to the flying ability of these 2.5kg birds with two-metre wingspans and their mastery of the onshore updrafts that they can glide over the raised squawking and perilous beaks of hundreds of their neighbours to find their own nest, another wonderful activity to witness at the sanctuary.

Characteristic behaviours at breeding colonies include mutual bill fencing and bowing of mates at the nest, the territorial headshake and bow at the nesting site, and sky-pointing as an indication of the intention to take flight.

It is just a short walk from the carpark off Motutara Road, opposite the Muriwai café and camp ground to a viewing platform by the main gannet colony, where up to 1200 pairs breed every year.

Go book a date with the gannets at Muriwai. A great place for a West Coast beach walk, watching the sunset and to take visitors from out of town. Gannets greeting each other. Photo by Adam Clarke.

Landing at the colony can sometimes be difficult ... Photo by Bevis England.

west auckland weather by the moon

Ken Ring’s predictions for April

April is expected to be much drier, sunnier and warmer than average, with less than half the April rain average expected.

The first week may see little or no rain, the middle two weeks may be wet, and the last week may be dry. Heaviest falls are at or near the 10th or 17th. The full moon on the 8th will be the closest to earth in its orbit for the year, causing destructive tides. Afternoon temperatures should remain in the 20s up to the 11th, and some cooler nights may be noticed after the 12th. Atmospheric pressures could be highest around the 21st, with the monthly average about 1019mbs. Wind directions are expected to average from the southwest. For fishermen, the highest king tides (for the whole year) may be around the 9th, with a lesser king tide on the 26th. The best fishing bite-times in the west are at noon on the 7th-9th and 22nd-24th, (and in the east at around dusk on those days). Chances are also good in the west for dusk of the 1st-3rd, 13th-16th, and 29th-30th, (and in the east around noon).

For gardeners, the 3rd-7th and the 30th are the best sowing days, with the waxing moon ascending. The best pruning days are the 15th-22nd; with waning moon descending. For longer shelf-life, choose lower water-table days of 2nd and 17th on which to harvest. Allow 24 hour error for all forecasting. For future weather for any date, visit www.predictweather.com. © Ken Ring 2020.