Nigel and the Real Gannet

Key takeaways

Loneliness and the need for companionship are universal themes that transcend species.
Conservation efforts sometimes involve creative strategies like decoys and sound recordings to restore ecosystems and encourage species return.
Nigel’s story highlights the gap between human ideals of love and the individual choices animals might make, challenging us to think differently about nature and animal behavior.
The importance of recognizing individual personalities and characteristics in wildlife, understanding that animals have their own instincts and desires.
The story prompts reflection on the existential questions of solitude, desire, and what it means to find 'home' or connection.

Summary

Introduction and Setting the Scene

The podcast opens with a narration about a small, solitary island off the coast of New Zealand called Mana Island. It introduces Chris Bell, a ranger who lived alone on the island to care for its recovering ecosystem. The episode sets the stage for a story of conservation, isolation, and the unique life of a bird named Nigel.

The Conservation History of Mana Island

The episode details the history of Mana Island as a habitat that was previously used for farming, which damaged its ecosystems. The New Zealand Department of Conservation worked to restore it by removing invasive species like mice and sheep, aiming to create a safe haven for various endangered species, including kiwis, blue penguins, and the Takahe. A key aspect of this effort involved using a single human inhabitant, Chris Bell, as a conservation ranger.

The Fake Gannet Colony and Nigel’s Story

Chris Bell's work on the island included establishing a gannet colony using concrete decoys and sound recordings to attract real gannets. The story focuses on Nigel, a real gannet who arrived after years of the decoys, becoming a pioneer for the colony. Nigel displayed ritualistic behaviors, built a nest for a mate that was actually a decoy, and seemed to seek companionship, making him a symbol of loneliness and longing.

The Arrival of Real Gannets and Nigel’s Loneliness

After years of effort, real gannets finally arrived on the island, but they ignored Nigel and the decoys. This rejection and Nigel’s persistent loneliness drew media attention, framing him as the 'world’s loneliest seabird.' The episode explores themes of love, companionship, and the tragic beauty of Nigel’s unrequited affection.

Nigel’s Death and Reflection on Loneliness

Nigel is found dead on his nest in 2018, ending his lonely story. The media depicted him as a tragic figure, but the narrative also reflects on broader themes of human and animal loneliness, individual personality, and the question of whether what Nigel wanted aligns with human notions of love or companionship. The story prompts listeners to consider the nature of solitude and connection in both animals and humans.

Show notes

In 2016, Chris Bell, a ranger with New Zealand’s Department of Conservation, was the sole human inhabitant of a small island off the west coast of the country, called Mana Island. He was there to take care of the island’s fragile and recovering ecosystem, including a colony of Australasian Gannets at the top of a high cliff overlooking the sea. But there was one catch. All but one of these striking seabirds were fake, made of concrete and paint.

This week on Radiolab, producer Annie McEwen tells us a love story about a rogue bird and what happens when the things we want for animals clash with what they seem to choose for themselves.

Special thanks to Melody Thomas and Kirsten Johnstone from Popsock Media, the New Zealand-based podcast company. Thanks also to Mathias Kom and Ariel Sharratt from The Burning Hell and Steven Lambke at You’ve Changed Records.

Visit Friends of Mana Island at https://manaisland.org.nz/ to learn more about conservation efforts on Mana Island.

EPISODE CREDITS:
Reported by - Annie McEwen
Produced by - Annie McEwen
with mixing help from - Jeremy Bloom
Fact-checking by - Diane A. Kelly
and Edited by - Alex Neason

EPISODE CITATIONS:

Videos -

There are many Nigel-inspired songs, poems, and plays find links to a few of them below:

See Nigel with his concrete mate (https://zpr.io/kZZC9erwauCD)
Nigel the Gannet song video by The Burning Hell (theburninghell.com)
Nigel [w/ score] (https://zpr.io/t47J6VkqAXLj) by Angus Davison
Nigel the Lonely Seabird (https://zpr.io/4gSSv5MX8xTa) by Daniel Henderson
Nigel (https://zpr.io/FuLupaZG42sn) by Avem
Nigel No Mates (https://zpr.io/hckrSSdBXKE9 ) by Dainius Kučinskas
Nigel Gannet (https://zpr.io/kddxySdXqd3C) by Fred Pilcher
Nigel (https://zpr.io/88HdTWRSd2UF) an Experimental Animated Short Film About a Lonely Gannet
Nigel, the Seabird, (https://vimeo.com/1023401693) by Chloé Aktaş, debuted at The Elysian Theater in Los Angeles in 2025

Literature -

Poetry inspired by Nigel the Gannet (https://zpr.io/xBiW9usvAkpy)

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