Gannets at Muriwai

morus serrator (Australasian Gannet, takapu)

There are a number of gannet colonies around New Zealand, 3 of them on the mainland: Muriwai, Cape Kidnappers (near Napier), and Farewell Spit (northern end of South Island). Cape Kidnappers is the largest, where visitors can come extremely close to the birds, whilst Muriwai is the most accessible site (especially if you live in Auckland!).

Over the last few years I have made many visits to the Muriwai gannet colony: to enjoy the rugged scenery, to take photographs of the birds, and to let the wind blow the cobwebs away. This website wants to share some of the experience, and in a small way pay tribute to the Auckland Regional Council who administers Muriwai Regional Park which incorporates this bird refuge.

A website about the Kumeu District informs about the region, as does this Kumeu Coast and Country site.

Paul Hafner

A diary of observations

14 July, 2002: visited Muriwai in glorious sunshine, although the wind was cold. There were just under 40 gannets on Motutara Island, just under 30 on the southern point, a few in the air (and none on the northern point). A seal, less than 1 m in length, was sleeping near the gate by the entrance to the beach.

Over a period of time (October 98 to January 99) I made relatively frequent visits to Muriwai and documented my observations here.

130 gannets (more photos)

A question

From time to time people write to me with questions or comments about gannets. Here is one of the questions which I found very interesting, but I have no clue as to an answer. If you can contribute anything (a reference, a story, use of symbolism - whatever) please contact me at hafner@math.auckland.ac.nz. Thanks.

Do you know anything about gannets in legends or folklore, or symbolism related to gannets? (It does not have to relate to Australasian gannets, any kind will do.)

History of the gannet colony

On the island of Oaia off the coast of Muriwai (NW of Auckland) a gannet colony established early in the 20th century. Since around 1975, birds began nesting on the cliffs of Muriwai due to overcrowding on the island (first on Motutara Island, spilling over to the mainland at Otakamiro Pt in 1979---originally only to the southern point, then also to the northern point, and now possibly spreading further).

In 1979 the Auckland Regional Council (then ARA) established the Takapu Refuge with the help of the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society.

In September 1995 concern was raised about a sudden inexplicable reduction in gannet numbers: in just 6 weeks the Muriwai gannet population had dropped from about 1400 down to 226. But equally mysteriously, the gannets returned shortly after (cf. New Zealand Herald, 23/9/95), and, if anything, are set to expand their nesting sites on the mainland.

For a shorter period (October/November to January) the ledges of the cliffs below the gannets are inhabited by white-fronted terns. These birds are smaller than gannets, flying rather like large swallows. (The terns were in fact displaced from the high ground when the gannets started to colonise Motutara Island and Otakamiro Point.)

Gannets fighting (more photos)

Some data about gannets

wingspan up to 180 cm
overall length 90 cm
a single egg is laid around September/October/November
incubation time about 44 days
chicks stay in the colony until February/March
the birds then migrate to Australia, returning after 2-6 years
it is said that (after weeks of furious flapping of wings on land) the first flight of the juvenile birds takes them to their destination more than 2000 km away.

I have only once seen a juvenile bird cruising around the colony amongst the adults. This bird did land on Motutara Island, eventually. All other juveniles (3 or 4 only) that I observed taking off headed west in a straight line, and I lost sight of them in the end.

Other web sites on gannets

Narena Olliver's gannet page, part of an impressive site on New Zealand birds Muriwai Regional Park (ARC) Angus Wilson's Ocean Wanderers page on Australasian gannets Tiritiri Matangi page on Australasian gannets Australasian gannets at the Australian Museum Online Richard Seaman's page on the Muriwai gannet colony Coast to Coast Tours - highly acclaimed Muriwai-based eco-tour operators whose website is a mine of local information Photo gallery and information booklet about the Cape Kidnapper gannet colony Department of Conservation page on the Cape Kidnappers Gannet Reserve Farewell Spit Eco Tours My impressions of a visit to Farewell Spit Live webcam at Bass Rock: Northern gannets (Scottish Seabird Centre) Angus Wilson's Ocean Wanderers page on Northern gannets Laingholm's newest Bed and Breakfast An artist's view: Painting Muriwai Takapu I by Don Binney. A photoblog: Auckland-West Here is a youtube video clip of Australasian gannets diving near Kawau Island in the Hauraki Golf (by deepsea12). Here is an amazing yotube underwater video clip of Cape Gannets diving for sardines (by earth-touch.com): More interesting videos can be found at earth-touch.com, e.g. massive dives. The following youtube clip shows the feeding behaviour of gannets (taken from the Northern platform at Muriwai on April 28, 2009; there were only about 15 chicks left in the colony, a fortnight later all the birds had gone).

Please let me know of any other sites about gannets in general or Muriwai in particular. Thanks.

Tips for visitors

In my experience, the best viewing conditions are in a good breeze: the birds will fly higher than in calmer conditions, often on a level with the viewing platforms. Also, it appears that there is greater flying activity when it is windy. Of course, when the wind is really strong, it will be difficult to hold your camera steady; you may then just have to experience the environment and come back for photos another time!
It pays to bring binoculars; you will see much, much more.
Photographers will be wary of the harsh and bland light between, say, 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.; visits in the morning or later in the afternoon provide better light (if it's sunny).
Don't forget to look down into the water: occasionally one can see Maui's dolphins feeding in the sea, quite close to the shore. Sometimes there are NZ fur seals basking on the rocks at the foot of Motutara Island.
Most of the time you will see surfers taking advantage of the waves, both at Muriwai Beach (North), as well as at Maori Bay (south).
You may also see some gannets skimming the waves, or just resting on the water. If you are lucky, you will see a gannet dive for food at high speed, from up to 30 metres in near-vertical flight. (I have seen gannets dive, but never at Muriwai.)
Go down to Maori Bay to take a look at the pillow lava formations in the cliffs above (these are lava flows that originated under water).
For a complete change, take a bush walk on the Quarry Track (on the other side of Waitea Road). This passes through Nikau groves with big gnarled Puriri trees, and leads to a lovely lookout. (Quarry Track leads to Lookout Track, forming a T-intersection: branch to the left.)
Apart from watching birds in the breeze, you can often also watch model airplanes being flown from spots along the access path to the colony. The slopes down to Maori Bay are also popular as a launching site for paragliders.
If you need your fix of coffeine or other sustenance, pay a visit to Sand Dunz (bottom of Motutara Rd, just before the beach carpark).
For information ring the ARC's ParksLine: 09-303 1530.

More gannet photos from Muriwai (Click on the image)

References

[1] Along the paths and on the viewing platforms at the takapu refuge there are generous info stations providing interesting details in beautiful presentation on glazed tiles (text by Louise Mara, illustrations by Mavis Wong).
Between the Waterfront Cafe and Bar and the beach there is also a nice information pavillion.

[2] Ewen Cameron, Bruce Hayward and Graeme Murdoch, A Field Guide to Auckland. Exploring the Region's Natural and Historic Heritage. Godwit Publishing, 1997 (ISBN 1 86962 014 3). Front cover and pages 31, 150-151. (A treasure trove! Highly recommended. I wish the authors would have included an index!)

[3] Alexander Guy Carton, Human impact on the behaviour and breeding success of gannets (Morus bassana serrator) at Muriwai. Report prepared for the Auckland Regional Council Park Service, April 1993. ARC Parks Technical Publication Series Number 1. (ISSN1174 0221)

[4] Brenda S. Green, Increase of gannets (Morus serrator) at Muriwai, Auckland. Notornis 46: 423-433, 1999.

[5] Bob Harvey, Untamed Coast Auckland's Waitakere Ranges and West Coast Beaches. (Photographs by Ted Scott) Exisle Publishing, 1998 (ISBN 0-908988-11-7). (Takes a wider perspective, but is full of information about the history of Auckland's West Coast. Of course, this book could benefit from an index, too.)

[6] J.B. Nelson, The Sulidae: gannets and boobies. Oxford University Press, London, 1978.

[7] C.J.R. Robertson, The Gannet Sanctuary, Cape Kidnappers. Compiled by the Cape Kidnapper Bird Sanctuary Board 1964.

Look at my photos of white-fronted terns.

Look at Paul's photo page.