To a flock of hungry Cape gannets, a swarm of sardines looks like an all-you-can-eat buffet.
But the fish have no intention of ending up on the menu.
To avoid being singled out by predators like tuna and dolphins, sardines band together in an enormous, tightly swirling mass called a bait ball.
It's a formidable defensive move...until the wall of scales shatters...from an air-launched weapon.
Cape gannets...the ultimate in avian military technology.
They can dive from the height of a 30-story office building, reaching speeds up to 60 miles an hour.
And on the way down, they turn into torpedoes.
Before they hit the water, Cape gannets fold their wings straight back, transforming into aerodynamic missiles.
And they do it perfectly with every single dive.
A millisecond too late, and it would be like plunging into a brick wall.
With a quick underwater wing flap, they can dive to depths of over 40 feet.
They can even swallow their seafood meal on the way back up, if they want to avoid a fish-fueled fight.
This bird's body is built for impact-air sacs and fat provide a cushion every time one hits the water.
And their bright white plumage broadcasts to other seabirds to come join in the spoils.
Faced with an air force and the navy, the bait ball becomes sardine sushi.
Now that's an MRE any airborne soldier would love.
