5 Gannet Facts to Make You Gasp

Diving gannets hit the water at breakneck speeds – but how do they do it without actually breaking their beautiful long necks?

Britain hosts 60% of the world’s northern gannet population, with Yorkshire home to the largest mainland colony at RSPB Bempton, but did you know these birds can see underwater? Or that they aren’t in fact, as their names suggest, greedy? Below are five fascinating facts about gannets that will make you gasp.

1.Gannets lock their necks rigid

The muscles in a gannet’s long neck are designed to lock the vertebra in place so they can withstand the impact of diving into water at speeds of up to 60mph 

2. Gannets have built in bubble wrap

Gannets have air sacs that ‘bubble wrap’ their chests to cushion the impact when they hit the water. Watch them in action here:

3. Gannets can see underwater

Gannets have binocular vision, which helps them to judge distances accurately as they pursue fish underwater.

4. Gannets aren’t really greedy

The gannet gets its name from the Old English ‘ganot’, meaning strong or masculine. But the term is usually associated with being greedy and may have been given to gannets because they swallow their fish as they catch them, rather than carry them back to shore – except during the breeding season when they are feeding chicks.

5. Gannets are so romantic

These birds are touchingly attentive to one another and pairs commonly give one another gifts of flowers or grass stems to reinforce their bonds.

Not only are gannets the largest of British sea birds, they are also one of the most beautiful. Brilliant white, except for a soft yellow head that fades gently to white along their necks, gannets have grey-blue beaks that are outlined with graphic black lines which make them beautiful to paint. Take a look at my collection of paintings inspired by watching gannets.