Yet again parental Northern Gannets are abandoning their chicks at Cape St. Mary’s – an event very reminiscent of the 2012 abandonment with almost the same timing. Like 2012, there has been a very rapid rise in sea surface temperatures (SST) around the colony (see figure below). The warm waters may be forcing gannets to head north to find prey in cooler waters [see Montevecchi et al. 2013 (Osprey 44 (2): 14-19) for more info on the 2012 event – investigations are ongoing for this years event].
