4

Australasian Gannet

(Morus serrator)
Alternative name: "Takupu"
Size: 85-90 cm; wing span 1.7-1.9 m

Habitat
(for details refer to a field guide)

Australasian Gannets populate coastal waters around the southern half of the Australian continent, from about Exmouth, WA, around the south coast including the Bight, all around Tasmania and up the east coast as far as about Townsville, QLD. They are most common along the Bass Strait and the Tasmanian east coast. They are not found inland. Note that from the Australian south and east coast their range extends to New Zealand.

Australasian Gannets are found only in marine habitats, never in fresh water. They are most easily spotted when hunting in shallow waters just off the coastline.

Sightings

We first sighted Australian Gannets hunting off the central coast of NSW, between Myall Lakes and Bouddi National Parks. In particular, they were observed off Wybung Head at Munmorah State Conservation Area, near Budgewoi, NSW.

Photos

View from above onto an adult Australasian Gannet in flight; note the creamy colour of the head

The same bird as shown above, seen in a different phase of its wingbeat

Here a lateral view

Here a view of the plumage on the top side of the wings of an immature bird

Crossing paths: immature Australasian Gannet (top) and Crested Tern in its non-breeding plumage (bottom)

Habits

Here a bird can be seen nose-diving into the sea; here one can see clearly that the outer tail feathers are white, while the inner ones are black

Trail of bubbles where an Australasian Gannet has dived into the sea water; they can dive up to several metres deep

Food

Australasian Gannets feed on fish, which they catch by nose-diving from a height of tens of metres, grabbing fish with their bills up to several metres under the water's surface (see above). They are known to hunt in packs.