Bird lovers have been paying tribute to Nigel ‘no mates’, the gannet who lived happily in a ‘concrete colony’ of birds – because he didn’t have any real-life friends.
The rare gannet, who lived on remote Mana Island, off the coast of New Zealand, was surrounded by nearly 80 replica birds who looked just like him as wildlife conservationists tried to keep him happy and encourage other gannets to live with him.
Since his death was announced last week, there’s been an outpouring of grief with many paying tribute on social media, and the conservationists who looked after him even penning a poem in his honour.
When Nigel first moved to Mana Island, conservationists were hopeful more of the rare gannet would follow – when they didn’t, Nigel ‘no mates’ was given a colony of 80 concrete replicas as his makeshift family
Dubbed ‘the loneliest bird in the world’, Nigel seemed delighted with his instant family and even tried to woo one of them, building a seaweed, mud and twig nest to impress his inanimate friend.
The news that Nigel had been found dead alongside one particular concrete bird suggests that he believed it was his partner in life.
The solitary gannet had given hope to conservationists after he settled on Mana Island five years ago, lured by the concrete colony he thought were real.
Despite his ability to bond with the birds, no others followed him…until Christmas Even last year, when three new gannets arrive.
However, the jubilation for a potential new generation was cut short, when Nigel was found dead.
The Friends of Mana Island Facebook group was first to report the death, saying: ‘Some sad news from the island… Nigel our first gannet has died suddenly.
‘Nigel won the hearts of Friends of Mana Island members and visitors to the island, settling there alone.’
Nigel was found dead next to one of the replicas, which the wildlife team at Mana Island believe he thought was his partner
On social media, response to Nigel’s passing saw thousands of people express their sadness with poems and photos shared about the lonesome gannet.
@ReetuKabra wrote: ‘I never thought a story about an isolated New Zealand bird would break my heart but it has. No point making any more plans for Nigel.’
@AnnCaito1 added: ‘So, so sad. Why couldn’t he have been placed with others? Why leave him alone? Having a decoy just set him up 4 loneliness and kept him from seeking true mates. Mortifyingly sad.’
After reading an article on the gannet’s death, @holland_tom penned: ‘Pretty much every line in this report on a gannet who lived alone for years among concrete gannets tears at the heart.’
Many others simply shared memes and gifs of people crying.
The conservationists at Mana Island even wrote a poem, published on their Facebook page. It read:
To Nigel You stayed awhile on Mana Island,
Attracted by your concrete mates
You built a nest, you did your best
But only Norman dropped on by.
We weeded, we painted, we sprayed guano around.
We hoped you’d find the real thing.
Three newbies arrived, a Christmas surprise.
But suddenly you are gone.
RIP ‘no mates’ Nigel