Migratory pathways and winter destinations of Northern Gannets breeding at Helgoland (North Sea): known patterns and increasing importance of the Baltic Sea

Abstract

We analysed the migratory behaviour of adult Northern Gannets (Morus bassanus) breeding at Helgoland in the North Sea, based on data obtained from geolocation devices in the non-breeding season 2016–2017. Birds moved east and south-west to a broad range of wintering sites, ranging from the western Baltic Sea to North-West Africa. Three out of 12 birds spent the winter in Africa, while 9 birds wintered in Europe, with the primary wintering sites in the North Sea. All but one tagged bird spent some time in the Baltic Sea or in the transitional waters between the North Sea and Baltic Sea. We also analysed data from online databases (dofbasen.dk, ornitho.de) and the German Seabirds at Sea database to explore the extent to which Northern Gannets used the western Baltic Sea, as well as the Kattegat and Skagerrak, during the winter months. Records of Northern Gannets in Danish waters have increased substantially over the last 18 winters, with particular increases in the Baltic Sea. There was also a notable increase in sightings of Northern Gannets in German Baltic Sea waters, but this occurred later than in the more northerly Danish waters. Both analyses demonstrated that Northern Gannets explored the western part of the Baltic Sea, as well as the Kattegat and Skagerrak, increasingly intensively. This recent increase in sightings is in accord with the establishment and exponential increase in the nearest breeding colony of Northern Gannets at Helgoland.