The Gannet's Plunge Dive

 

Locking onto target

Gannets patrol the ocean high above the surface looking for fish to strike. Their excellent vision searches the horizon for signs of other birds and marine mammals on the hunt.

From soaring to diving

After spotting possible prey Gannets swiftly shift from soaring or flapping to dropping toward the water.

A winged missile

Gravity and aerodynamic skill take them to the target within a couple of seconds.

Wings folding in

Their three-foot long wings, no longer supporting lift, tuck in to reduce air resistance for the dive.

Bird becoming arrow

The Gannet uses its wings as guidance fins during the plummet toward unsuspecting fish.

The perfect conversion

Nearing the water it becomes lethally ballistic at speeds up to 60 miles per hour.

Entry

Air sacs within its special bone structures absorb the surface impact. The bird's nostrils are located protectively inside the beak.

The minimal splash

The minimal splash is a tribute to the bird's streamlined plunge. Below the surface it instantly pursues the fish by leg and wing propulsion, sometimes to considerable depths. 

Gannet with a mackerel

The Gannet swallows smaller prey before returning to the surface. Larger fish like this mackerel it has to manage at the surface, where gulls may be waiting to steal the prize.

Pursued by gull

After these maneuvers the Gannet gets itself back up into the air where it spends its days repeatedly performing one of nature's stunning routines. It comes to land only at nesting time on remote coastal sites.