Gannet’s high velocity bid for lunch
If you spot a couple of dolphins in the waters of Hawke Bay, chances are there are gannets nearby.
But don’t be surprised to see the gannets diving in full throttle alongside them.
Several people spotted the natural event on Monday off the Marine Parade stretch — with a video of one such encounter taken by WhaleWatch Hawke’s Bay.
The gannet was not attacking the two dolphins, as long-time marine watcher and seafront resident Jo Speedy explained.
“They like one another — it’s called co-operation, collaboration,” she said. “And it is wonderful to see.” Speedy said if there were dolphins about there would almost always be gannets soaring overhead nearby, as they recognised the dolphins were pursuing what they were also pursuing — fish.
She also spotted the two dolphins on Monday and then saw the gannets start to arrive. “Normally we just see the birds so it was a joy to see the dolphins there.”
The close diving call was likely a result of the gannets and dolphin going for the same surface fish.
Speedy said she had been out on the bay in boats on several occasions and had seen both dolphins and gannets engaging.