Australasian gannet
tākapu · Morus serrator
Commonly seen offshore and on the boat trip over, diving wherever fish are feeding.
Story
New Zealand holds most of the world's Australasian gannets, and the Hauraki Gulf has several colonies. By 2017 Mahuki Island, off Aotea, had grown to about 6,000 nests, while Horuhoru Rock had halved to about 1,000.
Behaviour
Tākapu fold back their 1.8 m wings and plunge like torpedoes into shoals of pilchard, anchovy and jack mackerel. At the nest, pairs fence bills and bow to each other, and a bird 'sky-points' before taking off.