11/12/2025
A tour with Gannet Safaris Overland was a real treat, the weather was absolutely perfect. We did an afternoon tour heading through Cape Kidnappers private working farm to one of the largest gannet colonies on the mainland.
Cuteness overload with so many floofy chicks of various ages/sizes, parents were even sitting on a few eggs.
The colony is in good health with an extensive trapping program & land management regime across the farm. The colony is growing at a rate of ~3% per annum.
Parents weigh in around 2kg with chicks putting on up to 3kg before they fledge & take flight off the cliff and over the ditch to Australia (like many Kiwis🤣) the gannets do return though to breed at Cape Kidnappers and the cycle of life continues😍
