Seagulls, often dismissed or even disliked, are remarkably resilient and successful creatures. This article delves into the secrets behind their astounding survival strategies, offering a comprehensive overview of their fascinating behavior.
1. Communicate. Loudly.
Seagulls possess a complex vocal repertoire, far more sophisticated than a simple screech. Their communication includes distinct calls for various situations such as alarm, mating, aggression, and departure. Learning to recognize these nuances, like the urgent alarm call that often signals the presence of predators such as bald eagles, provides a deeper understanding of their social dynamics. The unique “copulation call,” a repetitive “ew-ew-ew,” is a clear indicator of mating behavior, often followed by post-copulation vocalizations that express satisfaction or surprise.
2. Cooperate.
Despite their often quarrelsome interactions, seagulls exhibit a strong sense of cooperation essential for their survival. This social structure is built upon a hierarchy of status and seniority. While lower-ranking individuals may face greater risks from predators, this established order facilitates collective defense. When threatened by predators like eagles or foxes, seagulls unite, forming a coordinated “white air force” that aggressively defends their territory through diving, screeching, and “shite-bombing” intruders. This highlights their understanding of mutual reliance and the strategic benefit of banding together in times of crisis.
3. Adapt.
Seagulls demonstrate an exceptional ability to adapt to changing environments, a key factor in their widespread success. Unlike species with highly specialized needs that make them vulnerable, gulls are unfussy eaters and adaptable nesters. Historically, they favored specific rocky islands for nesting. However, around the 1970s, they began to branch out, colonizing mainland areas and, later, urban environments by nesting on flat apartment rooftops. This adaptability has significantly boosted their breeding success and population growth, showcasing their flexibility in securing resources and safe havens.
4. Persevere.
The tenacity of seagulls is legendary, particularly in their foraging habits. They exhibit remarkable patience and determination in acquiring food. While trainers at the Vancouver Aquarium meticulously rewarded marine mammals for each successful behavior, gulls would patiently wait for hours, observing for any opportunity. Even after failed attempts, such as having a fish snatched away or being deterred by a trainer, they would persist. This unwavering perseverance, with an estimated reinforcement schedule of 1:543, often pays off, allowing them to secure meals even from formidable competitors like large Steller sea lions.
5. Use Your Hidden Talents.
Seagulls possess unique physiological adaptations that contribute to their survival. Firstly, they have the remarkable ability to drink saltwater, a crucial skill for a seabird. Specialized glands at the base of their bill allow them to excrete excess salt, enabling them to thrive in marine environments. This ability is shared by only a select group of animals, including other seabirds, crocodiles, sharks, and sea turtles. Secondly, despite their reputation, gulls possess a discerning palate, capable of detecting paralytic shellfish poisoning. They can identify and avoid contaminated clams, often vomiting shortly after ingestion and subsequently avoiding that species, demonstrating a sophisticated self-preservation mechanism.
6. Diversify.
A primary driver of seagull success is their incredibly diverse diet. Unlike specialist feeders such as the snail kite, which relies almost exclusively on apple snails, gulls are opportunistic omnivores. Their diet encompasses a vast range of food sources, including mussels, clams, barnacles, fish, and the eggs of other birds in wild settings. In urban environments, they readily consume human food waste like french fries and Cheetos. This “small-c catholic” dietary flexibility allows them to thrive in virtually any environment, making them highly resilient to fluctuations in food availability.
7. Just Do It.
Seagulls are prolific breeders and remarkably attentive parents. Both male and female gulls dedicate significant time and effort to raising their two to three chicks, providing care for months until they are independent. This commitment is evident in their persistent nesting behavior. Unlike some species that abandon breeding efforts due to minor environmental disruptions, gulls demonstrate an extraordinary level of resilience. They will rebuild nests and re-attempt breeding multiple times, even after significant predation or nest destruction, often trying up to 4.7 times before abandoning the season.
So For God’s Sake Stop Feeding Them.
The combination of high reproductive success and highly flexible feeding habits has led to a dramatic increase in seagull populations, with a 350% rise on the west coast in the last fifty years. This population boom presents a challenge, as their diet often includes the eggs and even young of other seabirds, many of which are already facing population declines. By providing readily available food sources like garbage, humans inadvertently exacerbate this problem, artificially inflating gull populations and increasing predation pressure on vulnerable species. Proper waste disposal is crucial to mitigate this issue and allow struggling seabird populations a better chance of survival. These supremely well-equipped birds do not require additional assistance from humans.
Have you experienced disruptive encounters with seagulls, such as being awakened early in the morning, targeted from above, or having your food snatched? Share your seagull stories in the comments below.
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