. Birds of America;. Birds -- North America. 92 BIRDS OF AMERICA object as it flies about over the dark waters of the winter sea. The Gannet likes the association of others of its kind, hence if you find one you are pretty sure to see others in the immediate neighborhood. They range all down the Atlantic coast to Florida, and it is not an uncommon sight to see small flocks almost anywhere off the shores of the eastern United States, disporting them- selves in the water just outside the breakers, or wheeling about in quest of fish. They fly usually at a height of from sixty to a hundred feet ab
. Birds of America;. Birds -- North America. 92 BIRDS OF AMERICA object as it flies about over the dark waters of the winter sea. The Gannet likes the association of others of its kind, hence if you find one you are pretty sure to see others in the immediate neighborhood. They range all down the Atlantic coast to Florida, and it is not an uncommon sight to see small flocks almost anywhere off the shores of the eastern United States, disporting them- selves in the water just outside the breakers, or wheeling about in quest of fish. They fly usually at a height of from sixty to a hundred feet above the water. Dr. F. A. Lucas says: " The height at which the Gannet flies catch, and then rises in pursuit of other ; Gannets breed north of the United States. Bird Rock in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and Bass Rock at the Firth of Forth contain well- known breeding colonies of enormous numbers. The nests are usually built on ledges overlooking the sea. Where these are broad, the entire area is covered with nests, just enough space being left between them for the birds to come and go with comfort. Where the ledges are narrow and there is room only for a single row of nests, one will find nearly every brooding bird sitting with its tail pointed outward and its head in close /. Drawing by R. I. Brasher GANNET (J nat. size) Like an animated spear it plunges into the ocean after its prey of fish above the water is proportionate to the depth at which the fish are swimming beneath, and Cap- tain Collins tells me that when fish are swim- ming near the surface the Gannet flies verv low and darts obliquely instead of vertically upon its prey. Should any finny game be seen within range, down goes the Gannet headlong, the nearly closed wings being used to guide the living arrow in its downward flight. Just above the surface the wings are firmly closed, and a small splash or spray shows where the winged fisher cleaves the water to transfix its prey. Disappearing for a few seco
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Keywords: ., bookauthorpearsont, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1920, bookyear1923
