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The colony of Gannets (officially Northern Gannet, Morus bassanus but formerly Sula bassana) on Troup Head is the only Gannet colony on the Scottish mainland. The first record of Gannets nesting here was a recently as 1988, and numbers have grown steadily ever since. In 2007 there were 1500 pairs, and at the time of writing (2012) there are 2000 pairs.

The cliffs were purchased by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in 2007 and now form a nature reserve. There is a small car park from which a path of about 600 metres leads to the cliff edge. This is not for those who suffer from vertigo as the cliff edge is unprotected and it is over 100 metres high in places. The path is quite good, and includes some rough steps, but leaving the path is not recommended because it is rough ground and the cliff edge is unconsolidated, and extremely dangerous when slippery after rain.

When it acquired the reserve in 2007 the RSPB installed a webcam overlooking some of the nesting sites. Images are relayed to the Macduff Marine Aquarium, which is the easiest way to see the Gannets.

There are also regular cruises on the 'Puffin' from Macduff in the nesting season. The boat goes close to the cliffs to give the best possible view of the birds, and they can also be seen diving into the sea from anything up to 12 or 15 metres, folding their wings as they do so, to catch fish.

As well as Gannets, the Troup Head cliffs are used for nesting by Kittiwakes, Guillemots, Razorbills and Fulmars. Herring Gulls are frequently seen, and sometimes Puffins.