Lake Erie

While in Conneaut Ohio mom and I took a walk on the shores of Lake Erie.  On the way to the van I watch two gulls fight over a hamburger bun.  With trash cans full of yummy to seagulls scrap I couldn’t figure out why these two would fight.   Since my knowledge of Seagulls is limited to “they eat, fly, and poop” I did a little research on the “Misunderstood Seagull.”


The Seagull Family
Seagulls are actually a common bird in the Charadriiformes family Laridae.
They are closely related to the terns.
Most gulls however, belong to the large family named Larus. The word Larus is from the Greek word meaning “ravenous sea bird.”

The Seagull Physique
They have a small claw half way up their lower leg which they use to prevent being blown off narrow ledges when they sit down or roost.
Their coloring changes frequently from mottled to white to gray.
They can drink salt water this is because seagulls have a special pair of glands right above their eyes, specifically designed to flush the salt from their systems through openings in the bill.
They have excellent eyesight, better than you or me and unlike most birds their eyes can move in their sockets.

Time In Regards To A Seagull
They mature in 4 years.
They can live a long time - up to 40 years in captivity but typically only 10 in the wild.

The Seagull Diet
Most seagulls are actually carnivores. They eat fish and crabs. They will scavenge dead animals and organic litter. They actually keep beaches clean.

Where Can You Find A Seagull
Most of the world’s seagulls are born in California.
Seagulls seek land for breeding and scavenging. They rarely venture out to sea.

How Smart Is A Seagull?
Seagulls are actually very intelligent and capable of high level communication.

Seagull PoopSeagull poop are actually full nutrient-rich waste perfect for the breeding of bacteria and other organisms that can cause disease and infections in humans.
Their poop are also Corrosive!

How Mean Are They
Some gulls can even be aggressive and hurt people. They can also infect you if they bite or scratch you! Some diseases they carry are E. coli, Cryptococossis and Histoplasmosis.

Seagull ParentsThey are caring and attentive parents. Both the male and female pair for life and take turns to incubate, feed and protect the chicks.
Juvenile birds form nursery flocks and will be watched over by a few adult males. Where they will play, fight and learn the skills needed for survival. They will stay with the flock until they are old enough to breed.

Most Important Seagull Fact is DO NOT FEED THEM!!!!

Click Here For Pictures!!

Don’t believe what your eyes are telling you. All they show is limitation. Look with your understanding. Find out what you already know and you will see the way to fly."  Richard Bach (Jonathan Livingston Seagull)