My successful image this year, Gannet Discipline, is one of the funniest sights I’ve seen through a long lens.
Gannet Discipline
1/2500, f/10.0, ISO 800
Canon 5DSR, Canon 200-400mm L IS USM EXT
It’s good to share a comical image in 2020, when we desperately need more things to smile about, if only for a moment.
This image is remarkable because of the action captured and also because it was taken at a bustling colony where it’s rarely possible to take a shot that doesn’t include bits of other gannets. To add to the luck the action was captured with a sea view!
Gannet Discipline
1/2500, f/10.0, ISO 800
Canon 5DSR, Canon 200-400mm L IS USM EXT
The main image is practically uncropped, it just needed a little straightening. I’ve shared the close up above as I absolutely adore the expressions on their faces. And now for the story…
Australasian Gannets usually breed on small, rocky islands. Point Danger is the only mainland breeding colony in Australia. Gannets began breeding there in the mid 1990s when a fox-proof fence was erected around the rocky promontory, giving gannets the opportunity to use the area as an extension of the nearby Lawrence Rocks’ colonies. Australasian Gannets form monogamous breeding pairs that rarely separate. They start breeding at about 6-7 years of age and attempt to raise a single egg each year.
As context for the ‘discipline’, the eggs take just over six weeks to incubate and the chicks take about 100 days before taking flight. Raising them takes sustained effort from both parents. This youngster had been waiting several hours for a parent to return from foraging at sea. Returning parents are greeted with much noise and excitement. The youngsters call loudly and tap frenetically at the parent’s bill to stimulate regurgitation. This youngster was given a good feed but it had hardly swallowed it when it restarted its incessant calling and tapping. The parent bird’s response was this brief headlock, like a quick clip around the ear. It was hilarious to see and amazing to capture.
1/3200, f/10.0, ISO 800
Canon 5DSR, Canon 200-400mm L IS USM EXT
The shot above shows an older chick being fed after its demanding calls and sustained tapping.
1/800, f/9.0, ISO 1600
Canon 5DSR, Canon 200-400mm L IS USM EXT
As context for the remarkably unobstructed view of the Gannet Discipline pair I’ve included the image above. The noisy, seething sea of gannets generally makes it quite tricky to capture a shot that isn’t obstructed by other gannets, which can often partially obscure the main subject or can be a foreground or background distraction.
Images that reach the finals of the Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year exhibition have to meet stringent requirements, which include that nothing may be added to or removed from the image apart from by cropping. It’s fantastic to know that all images in the finals have satisfied these rules as photographers have to submit RAW files, or the equivalent, for verification.
1/2500, f/16.0, ISO 1600
Canon 5DIII, Canon 16-35mm f/4L IS USM
The shot above sets the scene – gannet colonies are bustling, noisy and somewhat smelly. It’s not always possible to avoid the vast quantities of gannet poop that comes hurtling towards you, as my back pack and lens hood can confirm – though I feel pretty lucky they haven’t scored a direct hit to date!
If you have access to the Weekend Australian Magazine, six shortlisted images were featured last week, including Gannet Discipline. The Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year 2020 gallery showcases all the shortlisted images, they are outstanding. I recommend taking a look, click here
I was going to reshare my shortlisted images from 2018 and 2019 but last year’s shot was in the Human Impact section and isn’t pretty. The 2018 image was gorgeous and many prints were purchased but I wasn’t surprised that no one wanted the 2019 image. Both images can be seen by clicking on the AGNPOTY links in the lirralirra sidebar.
Happy birding, Kim
~ Facebook page Kim Wormald – lirralirra
~ Facebook group Ethical Bird Photography
@southaustralianmuseum @australiangeographic @kimwormaldlirralirra
Three times is exceptional Kim. Good luck with the final decision
Thank you Jas, I’m stoked to be in the finals
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Thank you Tess!
Congratulations Kim! What beautiful shots, and I love the downy soft colour of the group shot, beautiful birds.
Thanks Syndy! I’m glad you like the softness of that shot too
Unfortunately there has to be a winner.
Thanks for showing all the wonderful
photos which we would have missed.
I think we are all a bit biased.
That’s lovely Togram. There are so many fabulous images this year
Excellent photos, and 100% a well deserved finalist if not winner in my mind.. Love your photos and info
That’s so kind Eric, thank you
Congrats Kim
Thank you Evan 🙂
Absolutely brilliant! A hat trick! I love this image, so comical and such a window into their lives. Definitely lucky you were able to capture them without other gannets intruding! The feeding shot is quite extraordinary. Big congratulations on such a wonderful achievement, you’re a star!
Thank you so much Alyssa. I was super lucky to capture it without other gannets in it!
I just called my partner down to see these stunning images. Like me, he loved the expressions and is totally awed by the photographs.
I think there is a particularly fabulous collection of images this year, I’m glad you and your partner enjoyed them too
Huge congratulations (again) for your totally dsserved place in the finals.
That is an amazing image and I suspect parents the world over (regardless of their species) know exactly how the Gannet felt.
I can remember seeing an adult corella firmly rap an incessantly whinging young corella on the head. Inside the house we cheered (quietly).
Thanks so much EC. How funny to have seen a corella do the same thing!
Congratulations, Kim! A fabulous shot! Such interesting behaviour.
I’ve only seen our Gannets in New Zealand and I know what you mean about a crowded colony with not much luck singling out just one or two birds in a photo.
Thanks Kim. The first gannets I remember seeing was when I took a horse ride out to Cape Kidnappers, amazing place. I’m always happy to single out a bird or two when there’s such chaos at the colonies.
Well done Kim!
Thank you Stephen!
Congratulations, Kim, for your 3rd year as a finalist in this prestigious competition! I know you’ll do well with this photograph; I simply adore it. I’m sure the Judges will too. Good luck.
Marg x
Thanks heaps Marg. There are some superb shots in the line-up this year, really stunning. I’m glad to have a comical one amongst them 🙂