I have watched northern gannets (Morus bassanus) plunge diving from the beaches on Staten Island. I had good views on March 19, 2019, and April 13, 2018, and was able to video the birds as they hit the water.
Northern gannets, April 13, 2018, seen from Mount Loretto beach on Staten Island. This is a video screen grab.
Plunge-diving gannets seen from the beach at Wolfe’s Pond, Staten Island, March 19, 2019
Northern gannet, Mt. Loretto Beach, Staten Island, March 30, 2023
From the Cornell Ornithology Lab Web site:
“Flocks engage in spectacular bouts of plunge-diving for fish, with hundreds of birds diving into the ocean from heights of up to 40 meters (130 feet). … Most plunge-dives are relatively shallow, but the Northern Gannet can dive as deep as 22 meters (72 feet). It uses its wings and feet to swim deeper in pursuit of fish.”
Northern gannets in flight, March 19, 2019, seen from Staten Island
The Filming the Feathers video features the Johann Strauss Jr.’s Blue Danube (from the YouTube Audio Library) and a medley performed by the U.S. Air Force Band (obtained from MusOpen.org).
I did a very short video showing the plunge diving for Twitter.
The photos in this gallery were taken April 13, 2018, and March 19, 2019. Some are photos, others are screen grabs from the video.
