Sterna, bind 7 nr 8 (PDF-fil) - Museum Stavanger

According to local information two pairs, of which one bred, were
present in 1961. In 1962 at least three pairs nested and 11 adults were
seen, increasing to 30 adults in 1963. At the author's visit on Aug. 6th
1964 only 24 adults and six nests with young werc seen. On July 23th
1966 there were 51 adults and nine nests; on July 14th 1967, 53 adults
and 13 nests were counted.
The colony at Nordmjele, And~ya is situated on a small rocky islet 2
km from the coast. The islet is ca. 150 m long and 50 m wide reaching
an elevation of only 8 m, The vegetation consisted solely of lichens.
Apart from the Gannets there is 3 fairly dense colony of ca. 100 pairs of
Shags, ca. 20 pairs of Hcrring Gulls and a few pairs of Great Blackbacked
Gulls. Three Gannet nests were discovered by locals when gathering
gull and shag eggs on May 18th. The practice of annual egg harvesting
on the islet establishes that Gannets first bred there in 1967. Although
their eggs were taken, the birds relaid and were evidently joined
by a fourth pair, as local visitors found one egg and thrce very young
chicks on -. Julv 29th. On Aua. 31st when the author visited the site.
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only three half-grown young were found; the egg seen on July 29th having
disappeared. The nests were situated ca. 4 m above sea-level. Nine
adults were seen, all exceptionally timid.
As the only examples north of the Arctic Circle these new Gannet
colonies are of considerable interest. It is tentatively suggested that the
birds orginate from the same, probably British, source as those which are
believed to have established the first Norwegian Gannet colony on
Runde, near Alesund. The rapid increase of the Rundc colony, and the
numbers for the first years at Syltefjord, indicate that in some seasons
new individuals must join the colonies.
The factors governing the establishment of these two new colonies are
discussed. Capelin are believed to be the major source of food in the Syltefjord
colony. The atypic colony at Nordmjele shows that the Gannet is
less specific in choice of habitat then hitherto believed.
LITTERATUR
B r u n , E . , 1965: Polarlomvien, Uria lom via (L.), som rugefugl i
Norge. - Sterna 6: 229-250.
C h r i s t i a n s e n , B . 0 . , 1963: Zoologisk avdeling. - Tromsp Mils.
Årsb. 1962: 30-34.
Fisher, J. & H. G. Vevers, 1943: The breeding distribution,
history and population of the North Atlantic Gannet b la barsana.
-j. Aninr. Ecol. 12: 173-213.