The gannets captured more than 20,000 images, providing
fresh insights into seabird behaviour. 'All birds that had a camera attached
photographed a fishing boat, showing how important fishing is,' says Dr Steve
Votier of Plymouth
University, the study's
lead author.
'Of those a significant proportion was foraging at fishing boats, not
just flying past.' The cameras, normally used for tracking pets, were
originally attached facing forwards. But after failing to cope with the sheer
force of the gannets' characteristic sea-dive, striking the water at speeds of
more than 60 miles an hour, they had to be reversed. Previously, researchers
have tried monitoring the birds from boats or with GPS location trackers. The
team hoped that, by employing the cameras, they would be able to reveal a more
detailed picture of the birds' behaviour and the extent to which they rely on
discards.
