With a wingspan of nearly two meters, the northern gannet is the largest breeding bird in the Faroe Islands. It breeds on the westernmost island, Mykines, nesting on cliff ledges and broad rock columns. However, it can be seen throughout the country as it forages in fjords and the straits between the islands. Northern gannets are also observed far out at sea, often near fishing vessels. Tradition has it that they return to land on St. Paul's Day on 25th January and settle at their breeding sites on 24th February.
The northern gannet dives from great heights, reaching speeds of up to 100 km/h, plunging into the sea and diving as deep as 20 meters in search of food. Just before hitting the water, it tucks its wings back, forming a shape like an arrow. It feeds on pelagic fish such as mackerel and herring but can also take capelin, cod, and other fish species. Its beak is uniquely adapted to expand, allowing it to swallow relatively large fish. The northern gannet is agile in flight, and its streamlined body evokes the design of a modern aircraft.
The adult northern gannet is a striking bird, with its clean white body, black wing tips, and a conspicuous yellow head in summer. This yellow hue fades in winter. It takes five years for a northern gannet to attain its full adult plumage. Juvenile birds are mottled grey, brown, and white with black tails. Two-year-olds begin to show lighter feathers on the head, neck, and underside. By the third year, they develop white feathers on their back and inner wings, and their head turns yellow. At four years old, they are almost fully coloured, with only a few black feathers remaining in the tail and inner wings.
The female northern gannet typically lays a single egg in April or May, though in rare cases, two eggs may be laid. The male and female take turns incubating the egg for 43–45 days. Both parents feed the chick by regurgitating food directly into its mouth. After 9–13 weeks, the parents leave the chick, and after 10–20 days without food, the chick departs the nest. In Faroese, the downy chick of the northern gannet is called “ompil” until August or September, when it loses its down. After this, it is referred to as a "grey gannet".
In mid-September, men visit the breeding areas to hunt grey gannets. In some years, up to 1,000 grey gannets are caught and consumed. The Faroese northern gannet population is estimated at 2,350 pairs.
Silas Olofson
