Cape Kidnappers

 

We read about the gannets that nest in Hawke’s Bay at Cape Kidnappers and knew there were a couple of excursions to view the birds. We are not necessarily bird watchers, but it sounded interesting, so after arriving at the departure point at 6:30 on a chilly morning(I was dressed in seven layers (thin, Texas layers), we found seats on a tractor pulled trailer and set off down the beach. Our excellent driver and guide drove along the beach, over rocks, and in the ocean, stopping to show us the debris that came off of the cliffs during a one meter rainfall in April, fault lines from various earthquakes, volcanic ash, seals, and birds.

At the end of our ninety minute ride ending in a lovely beach with great rock formations, we climbed the cliffs and walked through a farmer’s field of cows and sheep to see the incredible Plateau Colony of gannets. The views were pretty spectacular as well! Jim and I could have stayed in this spot all day, but the trip can only be done during low tide, so reluctantly we headed back with the group on the tractor. 

Cape Kidnappers has its name from the time when Captain Cook visited in 1769. The Maori in their canoes went to the ship to trade and somehow ended up taking a Tahitian boy back with them. A few Maori were shot and the boy swam back to the ship. 

By the way, gannets mate for life (20-24 years) and the female and male share in incubation of the egg and chick care after hatching. At fifteen weeks, the chicks fly to Australia and stay for two to three years before returning to live permanently in New Zealand. Only about 25% of the birds survive to return Cape Kidnappers to find their mates. 

On my rating scale, an emphatic 10!

Notice the fault lines

Stunning views at the end of the cape

 

One of three colonies of gannets at Cape Kidnappers