12/28/2025
If you spend time at one of our beautiful beaches this holiday season, you may see some birds in distress.
Northern Gannets go through a long and intense migration, which can leave some so weak, they end up washing to shore. This is especially hard for the juveniles who have never yet experienced the challenge. The physical exertion of long distance flight, not eating for days or even longer, and fighting exhaustion can all lead to a severe deterioration in health (including muscle loss and organ failure). Since they are diving birds, their legs are positioned far back on their bodies, making it difficult to walk on land. This combined with being ill can also make them very susceptible to predation once they do make it to shore. We unfortunately see many of these birds lose their lives on this journey.
This is a natural process for this species, which happens every year, but there are some ways we can still help. If you find one, please call us and we can help you determine the best course of action for each gannet. You can ensure they are either left alone to pass peacefully, or brought to us so we can either attempt to rehabilitate them or make them comfortable in their final moments. If you intend to rescue the individuals you encounter, please be careful as they can still defend themselves with a strong bite, and that there is no guarantee they will even survive the car ride to our hospital. Thank you all for learning about gannets and helping our wildlife.
