| י31) סולה מצויה | ||||||||||
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:סולה מצויה . צבעה לבן, קצות כנפיה שחורות, ראשה וצוארה צהובים-כתומים ומקורה תכלכל . הצעירים בצבע חום כהה המלבין עם החלפת הנוצות . מעופה ישר, אופינית לה צלילה מגובה רב בכנפים אסופות בעת לכידת הדגים . בית גידולה ימים, משוטטת לאורך המדף היבשתי. מקננת על צוקי איים רחוק מהחוף . בארץ מזדמנת נדירה בחוף ים התיכון | ||||||||||
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Subspecies and Distribution.
Sula bassana Breeds both sides of Atlantic: On eastern side, in Norway and on western sied, 46-50 N. Winters S down coasts, some reachimg equator. | ||||||||||
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Descriptive notes.
85-100 cm; 2.3-3.6 g, wingspan 165-180 cm. Largest member of family; bill slightly stouter and head paler cream than in other gannets, though this colour breeding male. Juveniles start all dark brown, gradually gaining withe feathers of adult plumage. Habitat. Strictly marine. Wanders mostly over continental shelf. Nests on cliffs on offshore islands, sometimes also on mainland. Food and Feeding Shoaling pelagic fish, especially herring, mackerel, sprat and sandeels. Breeding. Highly seasonal, starting Mar/Apr Ground nester, usually in large colonies; with density at around 1 nest/m2; Neis large, dense mass of seaweed, grass, earth, etc. Stuck together by excreta. Invariably 1 egg; incubation 44 days; chicks have white down on blackish skin; fledging 90 days. First breeds at 4-5 years. Known to have lived over 25 years in the wild. Annual mortality rate of akults 6%. Movements. Well nown, due to extensive ringing. Young birds migrate S, small numbers reaching equator; some spend summer too in winter quarters. Adults disperse less extensively, but regular in winter in Mediterranean and Gulf of Mexico. Status and Conservation. ENDANGERED. World population estimated in 1991 at only Not globally threatened. Has been steadily increasing over much of present century, probably recovering former numbers, after earlier persecution by man. Population size well known by regular counts at the 40 gannetries, totalling over 265,000 breeding pairs and well over 600.00 birds in 1985. Israel. In Israel subspecies Sula bassana. Rare, winter visitor mainly along North Mediterranean caost of Israel. |
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