Bird Island Cape Gannet Colony

Bird Island lies 100mts offshore of Lambert's Bay, Western Cape and is connected to the mainland by a man made breakwater. It is only 1 of 6 Colonies of this species in the world and the only accessible one. Numbers are declining at several of the colonies particularly in Namibia. The world population of Cape Gannet is 150,000 with 17,000 or 11% of the world population breeding at Bird Island. The Island is accessible to the public for a small fee via the breakwater and a close up hide made to look like a rock formation overlooks the colony allowing great photography opportunities.

Other birds species breed on the Island as well as Cape Fur Seals that will eat the gannets given the chance, Rangers regularly patrol the area between the seals and Gannets. Cape and Crowned Cormorants breed as well as the notable White-fronted Plover and there is also a large Gull and Tern roost containing Hartlaub's, Kelp and Grey headed Gull, Swift, Common and Sandwich Terns. African Black Oystercatcher also roost on the rocks.

 African Black Oystercatcher

 Cape Cormorant

  White-fronted Plover

 Hartlaub's and Grey-headed Gulls, Swift Tern

Hartlaub's and Grey-headed Gull