Northern Gannet

A member of the booby family, the northern gannet is a sea bird that frequents open seas and can be found in coastal waters south to Florida and occasionally Texas and Europe. Gannets can be observed diving into the sea for fish, sometimes from heights as great as 50 feet. The gannet has a system of air sacs under the skin of the breast that act like a cushion on impact and protect them when they hit the water.