I spent an enjoyable half an hour watching a juvenile gannet fishing just off-shore today. You know the routine I'm sure....glide about a bit on your long narrow wings looking for a decent fish, then jink and start the dive, pulling your wings in and back until they form a point behind you and then....hit the water like an arrow. Choomph..straight in.
Unlike me of course gannets have evolved to do this and unlike me, nothing sticks out as they pierce the water surface.
The first thing that strikes you when you look at a gannet's skull is just how steamlined it is - whichever way you view it. From above, the beautiful smooth sweeping lines are very noticeable but from the side too everything is wonderfully sleek, guaranteeing the smoothest possible entry.
In spite of all of this....I do still wonder if gannets ever get headaches.
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