>>2) why do Gannets "elongate" their necks before take off from a colony?
>Why do I get the feeling it's both to inform cliffmates AND gulp O2?
>------------------------
>"Gulping" O2 seems unlikely. Assuming "gulping" means swallowing, try it
>yourself. It's a bad habit, makes you feel uncomfortable, leads to
>belching and doesn't increase the oxygen in your blood.

Whoops. Caught on another technicality. Guess I'll strike "Gulp for air"
from my phrases-with-meaning compilation. ;-)
Nevertheless, I'll stick by my response to the question. The only
explanation I had previously heard for this behavior (and I'm not sure if it
was in reference to gannets or murres or another taxa) was that it signals
that a departure is imminent, so as to avoid the evolutionary pitfall of
frequent mass exodus. But I find it easy to believe that there could be
advantages to exaggerated inspiration prior to taking flight.
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Scott Richardson
NE Seattle
salix at isomedia.com