On migration, Northern Gannets move widely down the east coast of Canada and the U.S. to winter in the shelf waters of the mid-Atlantic region, the South Atlantic Bight, and the northern Gulf of Mexico. A very small proportion of the birds that breed in Newfoundland are known to cross the Atlantic to winter off of West Africa. Like many seabirds, Northern Gannets display a low rate of reproduction and delayed maturation, initiating breeding at around 5 years of age and laying only one egg per year. They are long-lived, with some birds known to have survived at least 20 years, making them vulnerable to increases in adult mortality. This species is also considered to be vulnerable to offshore wind development in European waters, due to their relatively poor maneuverability and their habit of flying and plunge-diving from heights within the rotor-swept zone of wind turbines.

In order to assess the population impacts of offshore wind development on Northern Gannets, basic information must be collected on their distribution and behavior, including flight pathways and timing of habitat use, within the WEAs. BRI is working with multiple collaborators to accomplish these goals and meet the following objectives: (1) determine if Northern Gannets could be captured during the winter, non-breeding season, (2) tag individuals with satellite tracking devices, (3) define the timing of their annual migrations to and through the study area, and (4) track the fine-scale winter movements of Northern Gannets in the mid-Atlantic region.

In this study, Northern Gannets were successfully captured for the first time in winter using night-lighting techniques. These efforts, conducted in 2012, 2013, and 2014, resulted in the deployment of 46 satellite tags.

In general, winter-caught Northern Gannets demonstrated regional-scale movements along the Atlantic coast during winter, and around mid-April began a more consistent migration northward toward their breeding colonies in eastern Canada. During the return fall migration, Northern Gannets moved from shelf to coastal waters, as they travelled to the mid-Atlantic region, or passed through it on their way to the South Atlantic Bight or Gulf of Mexico. The use of coastal waters appears to be more pronounced among females.

The mid-Atlantic region and the Gulf of Mexico were hotspots for Northern Gannet activity during winter. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has provided additional funding for a fourth field season in 2015, extending what was initially a 3-year study. This additional year of tracking will serve to strengthen the study by increasing the overall sample size.

The satellite tracking study was funded primarily by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and additional funding was also provided by the Department of Energy and the Bailey Wildlife Foundation.

Our research partners include:

• United States Fish and Wildlife Service
• United States Geological Survey Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
• Sea Duck Joint Venture
• Memorial University of Newfoundland