Nigel dies beside concrete friend
Nigel the gannet died as he lived, alone on the cliffs of Mana Island, surrounded by fake birds.
Last week, Nigel’s body was found in the nest he had made for his partner – the concrete decoy he courted for the past four years – on the island off the Porirua coast.
Ranger Chris Bell discovered the dead gannet and said he was ‘‘incredibly sad’’ to lose him, just as three real birds had joined the colony.
‘‘This just feels like the wrong ending to the story. He died right at the beginning of something great.’’
Nigel became something of an ambassador for Mana after his arrival on the pest-free island.
It was the first time in 40 years that a gannet had flown in to roost but, instead of bringing a partner, Nigel quickly became infatuated with one of the 80 decoys designed to lure the real thing to the island.
So taken was he with his concrete love that he built it a nest out of seaweed and sticks, and was seen by volunteers apparently trying to woo it.
Last month, after a slight change to the sound system used to lure birds to the island to nest, three real gannets landed and set up shop at the opposite end of the colony.
Despite the company, Nigel stuck to his concrete mate, and it was next to ‘‘her’’ that Bell found him.
‘‘I certainly feel sad. Having had him sit there year after year with his concrete mate, it just doesn’t seem how it should have ended.
‘‘It would have been nice if he had been able to hold on a few more years and found a partner and breed.’’
Bell said there were hopes that the three new gannets would stay and breed on the island, establishing the colony that Nigel unwittingly began.
‘‘His legacy was that he was the first coloniser and, if this turns into a real colony, he will always have been the first.
‘‘It’s because of Nigel that the other gannets know about Mana ... maybe in six months’ time there will be a happy story to tell.’’
Nigel’s body was to be sent to Massey University to determine how he died.