Bass Rock is a tiny island formed from a plug of volcanic rock in the Firth of Forth, Scotland. It contains the world’s largest colony of Northern gannets, one of the biggest seabirds in the North Atlantic.
It’s estimated that more than 150,000 gannets—10 percent of the world’s population—crowd onto this one rock. The island is so important to the birds that the species’ scientific name, Morus bassanus, even comes from this small sliver of land.
So why isn't it called Gannet Rock?
Bass Rock (top) off the Scottish coast.
Tantallon Castle, with the Bass in the background, and gannets hovering above it.
A lonely place to be...
ReplyDeleteThe only other time I'd heard of a Gannet was in Monty Python's "Bookshop" sketch. Worth a listen : https://youtu.be/eCM2nEBE0RY?t=2m21s
ReplyDeleteOne day it will be a guano mine.
ReplyDeleteIt must be a booger bringing in the groceries every week.
ReplyDelete