Nigel (gannet)

Nigel was a northern gannet ( Morus bassanus) who became a well-known figure on Mana Island, a nature reserve off the coast of Wellington, New Zealand. He gained international attention for his unusual attachment to a concrete sculpture colony of around 80 gannet decoys placed on the island by conservationists. These decoys were intended to attract real gannets to establish a breeding colony on Mana Island, which had been cleared of vegetation and pests to make it a suitable habitat.

Nigel arrived on Mana Island some time after the decoy colony was established. Despite the presence of no other real gannets, Nigel took to the artificial colony, interacting with the concrete birds as if they were living members of his species. He would preen the decoys, attempt to build a nest for them, and even court them.

His dedicated, yet ultimately unrequited, devotion to the concrete gannets earned him the nickname "Lonely Nigel" and made him a symbol of both the human effort to restore ecosystems and the powerful instincts of wildlife. Sadly, despite his efforts, he remained the only gannet on the colony for several years.

In early 2018, a small number of actual gannets began to arrive on Mana Island, drawn perhaps by the decoy colony. However, Nigel did not integrate with the newcomers, remaining steadfastly attached to his concrete companions. Nigel was found dead near his chosen spot among the decoys in February 2018. His death was widely reported, highlighting his unique story and the ongoing efforts to establish a thriving gannet colony on Mana Island. While his presence was a solitary one, it significantly raised awareness of conservation efforts and the challenges faced by wildlife adapting to changing environments.