Gulls have a very special function in the web of life-that of keeping our waterways clean of dead fish, birds and mammals, and other refuse, on which they feed. They are scavengers that help prevent, to some extent, our waterways and beaches from becoming fouled with decaying organic matter. In recent years, gull populations have increased, probably due to the increase in the garbage and waste that man disposes of in generally such a sloppy manner. As we have polluted our waters and conduct open land-fill sites, gull populations and those of other scavengers are bound to keep expanding. We have created an abundant food supply to compliment its abundant habitat.

     The appetite of the gull family is one of its most outstanding characteristics. They eat anything and do so constantly. They seem to be on a never ending search for food of some kind, day in and day out. Only occasionally do they stop to loaf and rest. On the oceans, large saltwater bays, or big lakes, they follow ships, cleaning up refuse that may be tossed overboard. Huge flocks follow fishing fleets or individual boats to feed on scraps from cleaned or culled fish, and other creatures. Additional foods such as clams, crabs, worms, and other aquatic animals are obtained by constantly patrolling beaches and waterways. Gulls will also feed on dead and dying birds. They sometimes will actually haze flocks of ducks like bluebills and ruddy ducks, to scare them up in hopes of having a crippled or sick bird reveal its affliction by not flying. They also prey on live fish by flocking above the schools that are roiling the surface, dropping down to pluck them from the surface. In most cases stripers or bluefish are chasing these fish, and the gulls are picking up the scraps as well. In some cases they'll sit right down on the water and feed on schools of small fish leaving or entering small tidal creeks on the tides. Often they'll feed alongside pelicans on a feeding spree, and even pull fish out of the pelican's pouch when it surfaces!

     In fall, the increased populations of young-of-the-year gulls scour shores and beaches clean of aquatic carrion. Gulls will then often leave the waters and go to feed inland on insects and grasshoppers, returning in the evening in long glides onto the water. Some gulls feed on rodents, snakes, and other terrestrial animals. In fact they will sometimes soar in wide circles like hawks. In fall, and again in spring, gulls follow the plow, feeding on grubs, worms, beetles, and whatever else turns up. Gulls have an interesting feeding habit when it comes to eating clams. They instinctively drop clams or other shellfish from high above onto rocks, hard beaches or roads, to break the shells open and get at the contents. Where there are roads they seem to have learned that traffic will run over what they can't break, and they'll wait by a dropped clam for automobiles to run over them. They then rush out to grab the meat made available.

     Gulls are referred to by most people as "sea gulls," which is misleading since they are mostly found near the land, along coasts, tidal rivers, inland waters, and river systems. Gulls that inhabit the saltwater bays, marshes, and beaches seldom wander far from shore. There are about 15 species of gulls commonly found in various parts of North America, five being common in Virginia, and more than 40 species inhabiting the world. Gulls differ from terns, birds found in similar habitats, in a number of ways. They have larger bills with a hook on the end to enable them to tear rotting flesh. Gulls are able to alight on the water to feed, while terns hover, then plunge into the water to catch small fish with their small pointed bill. Gulls have webbed feet and can swim buoyantly on the water. Terns have a noticeably forked tail, while the gull's tail is fan-shaped or square. Gulls can also be easily identified by their almost effortless, buoyant flight as they glide and soar on updrafts and wind currents, carried by their long, narrow, pointed wings. Terns have narrower wings and fly with rapid erratic wing beats.

     The most common gull in Virginia in summer, is the laughing gull. This black headed gull is the sound of Virginia's summer coastal waters. You can't escape it! It is almost exclusively a coastal saltwater species. Occasionally it will feed inland in plowed fields or croplands, but seldom away from salt or brackish water. Laughing gulls are common breeders in Virginia. Like other gulls, the laughing gull goes through plumage changes, the young being dark brownish-gray with white-edged wings, banded tail, and dark bill and feet. In its second winter, it loses the dark tail band to an all white tail, as its back turns dark gray, its wing primaries turn black, and its neck becomes streaked. The fully adult laughing gull has a gray back and wings, with black primaries and white trailing edges. Its head becomes black with a white half circle above and below its eyes, while its feet and bill become a deep red, almost black. In winter it loses its black head which becomes lightly mottled or streaked. It also becomes rather silent, and stops laughing, apparently because winter is no laughing matter for it. A few laughing gulls spend the winter in Virginia but many move on south.

     Another common gull of Virginia and most of the United States is the ring-billed gull. It too, goes through the plumage changes from immaturity to adulthood, taking about three to four years. Adults have yellow bills with a black "ring" and yellow legs. This gull is actually more common in winter here in Virginia. Most go the Great Lakes Region to breed, and move south in winter. Here in Virginia, they spend time in dumps, rivers, freshwater and brackish water lakes and rivers, and they are especially fond of shopping center parking lots. Here they can stay warm on the heat absorbed by the asphalt and pick up old scraps of chips, burritos or hamburgers.

     The largest gull in Virginia waters is the great black-backed gull. It measures 28-31 inches long. Its black back offers a strong contrast to its snow-white head, breast, rump and tail. This somewhat formal, uniform-like outfit has given rise to nicknames such as "coffin-bearer," or "minister!" Its wings are black too, with white tips and trailing edges. It has a yellow bill with a red spot on the lower mandible. First winter immature birds are mottled brown with dark, dusky brown primaries. This large gull is rarely found inland, preferring coastal marshes and bays, although it will follow large tidal rivers up from he coast. Black backs are more predatory than other gulls as well as being scavengers, feeding on small birds, animals, aquatic creatures and all manner of carrion. Black backs breed in the Maritime Provinces of Canada, as well as coastal New England. They have been mainly a wintering species in Virginia, but in recent years, they have become more common all year round.

     The herring gull is one of the most common gulls on the continent. Adult birds are white with blue-gray backs and wings. The outer primaries of their wings are black with white tips. The herring gull has a yellow bill with a red spot on the lower mandible like the great black-backed gull. Its legs are flesh colored. Young birds have pinkish-gray bills. The herring gull measures about 24 inches in length, with a wingspan of about 56 inches. Young herring gulls vary in color from brown to sooty gray to dull white, depending on their age. First year birds are dark, and get progressively lighter each year until full adult plumage is attained. This takes about four years. Herring gulls breed mainly in Canada from the Great Lakes north, but has been expanding that range southward in recent years and now some breed in North Carolina and Virginia.

     Another black headed gull found in Virginia is the Bonaparte's gull. Its summer plumage consists of a black head, gray back, white undersides, black bill, with red legs and feet. It is somewhat tern-like in appearance, flying with its bill pointed slightly downward. This gull moves into Virginia beginning about November and spends the winter months on brackish and freshwater rivers and lakes. Its loses its black head, retaining only a small black spot on its cheeks It has a white wedge-shaped marking on the leading edge of its otherwise black wingtip. This flashing of white is very noticeable as they fly low over the water in loose flocks; gliding and dangling their legs, then dipping down to the surface to pick up morsels of food. Bonapartes breed mainly in central Canada on the shores of the many smaller lakes. 

     Gulls, in general, are gregarious and gather in large colonies during their breeding season. Frequently they locate their noisy colonies on islands, rocky points, or isolated spits of land, to protect against terrestrial predators. Many naturalists believe gulls mate for life, seeking new mates only when one dies. Nests are usually built on the ground, consisting of a depression, ringed with grasses, sticks, aquatic vegetation, or shoreline debris. Some herring gulls have been known to nest in trees.

     Because of garbage dumps, landfills, and the general increase of trash along waterways, gulls have increased in number. Modern man's lifestyles have created good habitat and abundant food. The gulls, ordained by nature as waterways sanitary engineers, expands their populations accordingly to do its job for man's benefit! 

© 2001 Carl C. Knuth All rights reserved.