Approach to Percé
Percé, Québec
A northern gannet spreads its wings to land in front of a hill in full summer bloom on Bonaventure Island, in the far east of Québec's Gaspé Peninsula. The birds can cover the distance between the base of the island and the gannet colony at the top in a matter of minutes, while any human visitors have to take a ferry across from the town of Percé and then hike straight uphill for at least an hour. Landings and takeoffs are constantly happening in the colony, and when the wind and light conditions are favorable —that is, cloudy-bright overcast with the breeze coming off the sea— it's often a matter of time before one of the thousands of birds lines up for a pleasing flight shot.