The Great Northern Gannet Colony of Boneventure Island (Gaspe’, Quebec, Canada) shot with the Sony A7rII and 70-300mm FE

August 11, 2018
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This is a Guest Post from Animalsbarry. All images have been take with the ony A7Rii and FE 70-300 or Rokinon 35mm.

The Great Northern Gannet Colony of Boneventure Island (Gaspe’, Quebec, Canada)

Over 50,000 nesting Northern Gannets cover the beaches from horizon to horizon

Northern Gannets are huge seabirds and are the northern relative of the Booby.

Both parents care for a single chick. Many individuals are banded and released for research.

A ferry brings visitors to Boneventure Island and the colony of Northern Gannets is on the far side of the island, be prepared for a reasonably long and hilly hike.

Each time a bird lands they perform a fencing ritual with their beaks. With so many nests around it is important to confirm they have selected the right partner.

Visitors can get very close to the birds and get great pictures with any camera.
This article is more about a great photography location than about equipment.
For this article all pictures were taken with Sony A7Rii and FE 70-300 or Rokinon 35mm.
I use my photos as reference for paintings.

You can see my paintings at animalsbybarry.com/
You can see more articles like this on my Roadrunner Road Trip page animalsbybarry.com/roadrunner-blog
And you can see more of my photos in my Photo Gallery animalsbybarry.com/road-runner-photo-gallery

Parents take turns shading the chick from the direct sun.

Near the center of the colony is a three story platform providing a spectacular view of the colony.

From the tower Gannets can actually be seen flying below,

Gannets are true seabirds and live out in the ocean. Gannets come ashore once a year to nest, and have a single chick.

Gannets usually return to the same spot on the same beach each year to breed and although they do not mate for life they usually choose the same mate year after year. Young Gannets usually return to beach of their birth to roost, and this colony has been growing larger over the years.