Question 1: These determined divers are …
A Northern gannets
B Atlantic puffins
C Boobies
The northern gannet breeds along coastal cliffs in Western Europe and northeastern North America. They either plunge-dive from the air or dip from the water’s surface to catch prey. They swallow their catch underwater before surfacing, never flying with prey in their bills.
Correct Answer: Northern gannets
Question 2: What is the primary diet of the northern gannet?
A Insects
B Plankton
C Fish
Northern gannets primarily feed on fish such as sardines, anchovies, haddock, smelt, and Atlantic cod. They capture their prey through spectacular, high-speed dives. These skilled hunters also undertake seasonal migrations, following fish-rich waters along the Atlantic for optimal feeding opportunities.
Correct Answer: Fish
Question 3: Where is the largest seabird breeding colony in the continental United States?
A Channel Islands
B Coronado Islands
C Farallon Islands
Located off the coast of San Francisco in the nutrient-rich California Current, the Farallon Islands host over 250,000 seabirds, forming the largest breeding colony outside Alaska and Hawaii. In the absence of nearby large islands suitable for nesting, this vital reserve provides essential sanctuary within a biologically productive upwelling zone of the eastern Pacific.
Correct Answer: Farallon Islands