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Gainéad
Gannet Sula Bassana.
The Gannet has a lovely
white plumage and a yellow head. It has a pointed tail and black wing tips.They
spend the winter over the west coast of Africa.But may be seen off our
coast in summer.Over 20.000 birds breed every year on Little Skellig
Island off county Kerry.The Gannet dives from up to thirty metres and plunges
to the depth of up three or four metres. Gannets lack the useful brood
patches featherless patches on the belly so the egg is kept warm underneat
their webbed feet which have numerous blood vessels to let the egg.When
the chick starts hatching the egg is moved to the top of the feet to avoid
crushing.Most young leave the nest at the end of August or early September.
Story by Joann Harney
Illustration by Aisling
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