Geolocation tracking of the annual migration of adult Australasian gannets (Morus serrator) breeding in New Zealand

The long breeding period and high reproductive investment of seabirds make use of resource-rich foraging areas pivotal both during and between breeding seasons. We tracked adult Australasian Gannets (Morus serrator) from their New Zealand breeding colony at Cape Kidnappers to Australia during the non-breeding period to assess wintering behavior and migratory routes for this species. Data from three recovered geolocation sensor (GLS) tags showed that both a male and a female M. serrator, and a hybrid M. capensis × M. serrator migrated across the Tasman Sea to winter in Australian and Tasmanian coastal waters. Tracked birds covered distances of up to 13,000 km on their migration. These movements were consistent with historical records of band recoveries.

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