The defining characteristic of the gannet is its incredible plunge-diving technique. To catch fish, a gannet can dive from heights of up to 30 meters, reaching speeds of 100 to 120 km/h before piercing the water's surface. Their bodies are built like living torpedoes to survive these high-impact strikes:
Gannets are highly social birds that nest in massive, noisy colonies known as gannetries. These colonies, such as the one on Bass Rock in Scotland, can house over 150,000 birds at their peak. Within these crowded cities of feathers, gannets maintain remarkably stable family lives: gannet
: They have no external nostrils, which prevents water from being forced into their lungs upon impact. The defining characteristic of the gannet is its