LEFT: Nelson and Roz bond
with a greeting ceremony,
which is often followed by a
mutual preening session. The
full gannet courtship display,
including neck-biting and
mock fencing, is connected to
nest-site possession and never
performed anywhere else.
This isn’t the only record of the
species nesting in an unusual
place – gannets have also been
recorded using marinas in the
French Mediterranean
ABOVE: In the summer months Porto Venere becomes very
busy with tourists, though the pair cope surprisingly well
with life alongside speedboats, fishing boats, swimmers and
fishermen. However, boat moorings are in short supply so
some people hold a grudge against the gannets for occupying
valuable spaceTOP: Northern gannets usually breed in steep and windy
locations that help them to get airborne. The elongated shape
of the nearby island of Palmaria shelters the gannets in Baia
dell’Olivo, but nesting at sea level has forced Roz and Nelson to
alter their behaviour. To clear this motor yacht Nelson plunged
into the water and paddled away before taking off