Death on the rocks

The coast of Cape Ann, Massachusetts: at Pigeon Cove earlier this month, I came across a dead juvenile northern gannet on the rocks. There was a fishing lure lodged in the bird’s mouth. Now, this is only circumstantial evidence for the cause of death, but it’s pretty damn strong circumstantial evidence.

Northern gannets, Morus bassanus, plunge into the sea to catch fish. I suppose this one mistook the lure for the real thing. Fishing nets, lines, lures, and hooks abandoned by amateur and commercial fishers do serious damage to birds, sea turtles, and of course, many species of fish. Our own Prospect Park is riddled with tangles of fishing line, a fairly indestructible material, and a frequent death sentence. (City Birder Rob Jett has a better-ending story on this topic from earlier this year.)

Gannets can sometimes be seen off the Rockaway Peninsula, especially Breezy Point. They are quite spectacular creatures, with 72″ wingspans. They’re sort of our version of the albatrosses. The way they suddenly dive into the waves is breathtaking. Go see one, fellow mortals, before you too bite down upon your last lure.