Gannet chicks ready to break free

Summer is here and the season's first gannet chick has been spotted at Black Reef colony.

It might be the only one out and about, but there will soon be another 8000 new additions to the four colonies at Cape Kidnappers.

Gannet Beach Adventures owners Kim and Colin Lindsay have seen the first chicks of the season.

Gannet chicks were born hairless, and remained nestled under their mothers until a feathery down grew over their bodies, Mr Lindsay said.

There could be a lot more chicks but they were hard to spot.

"It needs to be pretty good weather for mum to get up and stretch her legs."

It was always exciting going down and seeing the new chicks. Mr Lindsay had since seen another chick at Black Reef.

"Its a good sign - nice to see it's all on track."

The 10,000 female gannets from the four colonies would sit on their eggs for 40 days, with most pairs producing one chick each season.

"Mum and dad have their hands pretty full just raising one baby," Mr Lindsay said.

Both parents would work together to bring food for their chick, which would be fully grown in four months.

It was a small window for the Lindsays to enjoy the new company. Beginning late March, the gannets would begin migrating to Australian waters.

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