Over 43 000 Cape Gannets on Lambert’s Bay Bird Island this breeding season
Bird Island is alive with the sounds and spectacle of seabirds, with an estimated over 43 000 Cape Gannets currently making the island their home this breeding season. The thriving colony reinforces Bird Island, Lambert’s Bay, as one of South Africa’s most important gannet breeding sites and highlights the impact of ongoing marine conservation work.
The conservation team at Bird Island is encouraged by the sustained strong presence of gannets on the island. Work is currently underway to enhance population monitoring and improve the accuracy of long-term data. The Cape Gannet is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and Vulnerable on the SANBI Red List.
Restoring and maintaining the gannet colony has not been without challenges. In December 2005, on-land seal predation caused the entire colony to abandon the island. Through careful management by CapeNature, mitigation measures were implemented to manage predators, and bird decoys were used to lure the birds back, enabling the colony to rebuild.
Over the past year, the population has increased to well into the 40 000s, compared to consistently remaining in the 30 000s over the previous five years. This notable growth is not only the result of local breeding success but also suggests that gannets from other colonies are selecting Bird Island as a preferred breeding site.
This kind of sustained occupancy is a positive sign for the species and for the marine environment that supports them. Large, stable gannet colonies like the one on Bird Island are important indicators of ocean health along the West Coast. These seabirds rely on healthy marine ecosystems for their nutrition and breeding success, so when we see them in large numbers, it reflects a positive conservation outcome.
Early indications suggest this could be one of the strongest gannets fledging seasons in several years. To date, 7 647 fledglings have been recorded, with several weeks of the season still to go.
Gannet fledging is one of nature’s most extraordinary events. Young birds leave the safety of the colony to embark on a two- to three-year ocean-wide journey, returning only once they are ready to breed.
In partnership with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), rangers have ringed 750 gannet chicks and 250 adult birds this season, contributing valuable data to national seabird research and monitoring programmes.
The island remains home to a diverse community of seabirds, including Cape, Crowned and White-breasted Cormorants; Common and Greater Crested Terns; Hartlaub’s Gulls; and Kelp Gulls. Adding a touch of character to the season, a moulting penguin has also taken up temporary residence, sheltering within the gannet colony.
Complementing these conservation efforts, Bird Island’s interpretive signage was updated and launched ahead of last year’s summer tourism season. The signage offers visitors fresh insights into the island’s inhabitants, history, and the role seabird colonies play in marine ecosystems.
With its remarkable seabird encounters, improved visitor facilities, and ongoing research efforts, Bird Island remains a must-see destination for anyone exploring the West Coast, particularly birders and nature enthusiasts eager to witness one of South Africa’s great seabird spectacles.
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