Page 27 - 2008 NZ Subantarctic Islands

The Waimaru Australasian Gannet Colony and

Duffer’s Reef

Exploring another part of this Maritime Park, we went by Zodiac
to a wonderful
natural reserve that

has not required the
intervention of

concerned human
beings yet though it

is under DOC
administration. This

was the Australasian
gannet colony that
occupies steep and

craggy small islands in this Bay. The granite rocks rise sheerly from
the dark indigo waters and almost pierce the clouds riding high in

the blue sky. The birds are about the size of gulls and very busy all
the time—fishing, drying their wings after dives, nudging and

elbowing others for space on the precious ledges, feeding their
fuzzy gray chicks in their precariously placed nests. Other species

of birds also struggle for purchase among the gannets—
oystercatchers, King Shags, Pied Shags, and silver gulls. The scene
was beautiful and rugged and a spectacular sunset just added to

the beauty as we watched the birds begin to flock in for the night,
dark patterns against the sky’s brilliant tropical colors. As we

zoomed about in Zodiacs under the amazing sunset, we also
passed the roosting place of the rare and endemic King Shag.

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