Difference between revisions of "Gannet"
(yes it is) |
|||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
The '''Gannet''' is a large seabird found in the [[Atlantic Ocean]]. It is three feet long and mostly white, with a yellow head and blue eyes; they can take four years to reach their full adult [[plumage]]. | The '''Gannet''' is a large seabird found in the [[Atlantic Ocean]]. It is three feet long and mostly white, with a yellow head and blue eyes; they can take four years to reach their full adult [[plumage]]. | ||
| − | Gannets have no nostrils, because they dive into the sea from a great height, and this design protects their brains from damage from the pressure of the water[http://elibrary.unm.edu/sora/Auk/v054n03/p0379-p0381.pdf] | + | Gannets have no nostrils, because God made them that way so they could dive into the sea from a great height, and this design protects their brains from damage from the pressure of the water.[http://elibrary.unm.edu/sora/Auk/v054n03/p0379-p0381.pdf] For this reason they are locally nicknamed the Angel Bird, as they appear to have some sort of divine protection surrounding them. However, the truth of these claims is debated.{{fact}} |
They nest in large groups on cliff ledges and small islands on the coasts of [[Europe]] and [[Canada]], although it is most common in the [[British Isles]]. They spend the winter at sea as far south as [[Mexico]], the [[Caribbean]] and [[Africa]]. They are also occasional visitors to the [[Great Lakes]]. In the tropics their closest relatives are the [[booby|boobies]]. | They nest in large groups on cliff ledges and small islands on the coasts of [[Europe]] and [[Canada]], although it is most common in the [[British Isles]]. They spend the winter at sea as far south as [[Mexico]], the [[Caribbean]] and [[Africa]]. They are also occasional visitors to the [[Great Lakes]]. In the tropics their closest relatives are the [[booby|boobies]]. | ||
Revision as of 01:52, November 25, 2008
The Gannet is a large seabird found in the Atlantic Ocean. It is three feet long and mostly white, with a yellow head and blue eyes; they can take four years to reach their full adult plumage.
Gannets have no nostrils, because God made them that way so they could dive into the sea from a great height, and this design protects their brains from damage from the pressure of the water.[1] For this reason they are locally nicknamed the Angel Bird, as they appear to have some sort of divine protection surrounding them. However, the truth of these claims is debated.[Citation Needed]
They nest in large groups on cliff ledges and small islands on the coasts of Europe and Canada, although it is most common in the British Isles. They spend the winter at sea as far south as Mexico, the Caribbean and Africa. They are also occasional visitors to the Great Lakes. In the tropics their closest relatives are the boobies.
Gannets catch fish by diving into the sea at them from a great height, and their legendary capacity to eat a lot of fish has made the gannet an emblem of greed.
