Sergey Dereliev

Large black and white seabird, breeding in large colonies on cliffs and offshore islands of Norway, the British Isles, Ireland, Iceland and Faroe, France, and E. Canada. Wanders the Atlantic Ocean outside breeding season south to W Africa, feeding on fish caught by characteristic plunge-dives. Young birds migrate to south of its range, adults range less far. Ring recoveries suggest shorter migrations than geolocator tracking, but indicate no long-term change in migration distances (Laurenson et al. 2021). European population 683,000 breeding pairs, increasing. Frequently drowns in fishing nets.

Season of assessment

B

Population trendIncreasing
Population size
(min-max, best estimate)		821000-823000,822000
Red List categoryLC
Franks, S., Fiedler, W., Arizaga, J., Jiguet, F., Nikolov, B., van der Jeugd, Ambrosini, R, Aizpurua, O., Bairlein, F., Clark, J., Fattorini, N, Hammond, M., Higgins, D, Levering, H., Skellorn, W., Spina, F, Thorup, K. Walker, J., Woodward, I. and Baillie, S.R. (1) (2022) Online Atlas of the movements of European bird populations. https://migrationatlas.org EURING/CMS (1) Principal investigator
Map

Overall Connectivity for Northern Gannet

Most connections are from birds in colonies in British Isles, and strongly N-S oriented to coasts of France, Spain, Morocco and W Africa S to Guinea-Bissau. Adult Gannet frequently loop clockwise around Britain and Ireland (Furness et al. 2018). Also many connections E to Denmark and Netherlands. Less frequently to W Mediterranean, sparse Italy, rare M East. Few connections from Iceland towards SE to British waters. Birds from France connect to coasts from Denmark to Spain, occasionally W Africa. N Norwegian birds connect relatively more often long distance to European coasts from Denmark to Spain and W Africa.

Recoveries by Condition for Northern Gannet

Over 80% of recoveries are of dead birds, occurring equally over entire range, and of which majority refer to beached birds. About one tenth of total are birds drowned in fishing nets, over 6% are oil victims, but trend decreasing over time. Mortality very high during early life, with almost one-third of juveniles dying within 2 months of leaving the colony (Lane et al 2021). Birds shot or intentionally taken 5% of total, mostly in France and Spain. Ringing recoveries rare, mainly in large colonies. Birds otherwise alive found relatively often at Sea, possibly weakened birds found at ships?

Annual Movements for Northern Gannet

Variation in occurrence in time and place subtle, with recoveries occurring in whole area in all months, but most recoveries in W Africa in Nov-Mar, N Norway and Kola Peninsula only from end May to end Aug (Sep). Most recoveries in Mediterranean in Oct-Apr, few in M East in Dec-Mar. Increasing density of recoveries on coasts of Denmark to Spain from mid Jul, reaching maximum in Sep-Oct, fading out until relatively few in Dec. Many offshore recoveries in Gulf of Biscay begin Sep – mid Oct.

Connectivity by Month by Region for Northern Gannet

Vast majority of connections from birds ringed during breeding in Jun-Jul in NW Europe, connecting to coast of British Isles in Aug-Apr, to European coast from Norway to Spain Aug-Mar, with majority in Sep-Nov, to W Africa in Nov-Feb. Few connections to Iceland and N Norway during breeding in Jun. Bird breeding in Norway (Jul-Aug) connect to coasts of Germany to Spain in Aug-Jan, W Africa in Oct-Apr. Relatively few to British Isles in Oct-Jan. Birds breeding in W Europe all from St. Anne, off coast of Normandy, France. Birds ringed there in Jun connect to coast of Denmark to NW France and S coast of England in all months, but mainly May-Sep, to W France and Spain mainly in Sep-Nov, W Africa in Jan-Apr. One bird ringed as juvenile in New Brunswick, Canada in Aug reached NW Spain in Oct.

Henk van der Jeugd

References

Statistics Map
N records N individuals N recoveries
Mapped data*
Total available data
*Mapped data include only distant (>= 50 km) recoveries
References Map
Furness, R.W., Hallgrimsson, G.T., Montevecchi, W.A., Fifield, D., Kubetzkig, U., Mendel, B, Garthe, S.2018 . Adult Gannet migrations frequently loop clockwise around Britain and Ireland. Ringing & Migration 33 Link to Article (DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03078698.2018.1472971) : 1–9
Lane, J.V. ,Pollock, C.J., Jeavons, R., Sheddan, M., Furness, R.W., Hamer, K.C.2021 . Post-fledging movements, mortality and migration of juvenile northern gannets. MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES 671 Link to Article (DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps13804) : 207–218
Laurenson, K., Atkins, K., Clark, B., Morgan, G., Morgan, L., Votier, S.2021 . Gannet Morus bassanus ring recoveries suggest shorter migrations than geolocator tracking, but indicate no long-term change in migration distances. Bird Study 68 Link to Article (DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00063657.2021.1960270) : 1–8

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