Ontario Seagulls
The first thing I've learned is not to call them seagulls. The right word is gulls, for the species as a whole. But, I've been calling them seagulls a very long time and I like the name. So, will likely stick with it. But, I do know better.
Why don't we call them lake gulls? I guess that would lead to dump or landfill gulls, which is not very nice. If you can't stick to gulls, at least seagulls doesn't make them sound like garbage pickers.
Most of the time I see what could be three types of gulls. Its not easy to know who is who among the gulls. They look quite alike with grey, black and white. One of them is a little larger than the others and has an overall grey. I don't see it in the list (with photos) from Birdwatching HQ (below). Next time I will get a photo. Maybe its new to Ontario. I guess its possible.
My perennial argument is this: “There is no sea in south-central Ontario, therefore, there can be no seagulls!” They are gulls.
The gull is forced to endure further insult as the bogus common name is used blindly as a blanket term for all gull species, unceremoniously dumped into one generic picnic basket.
With a closer look, you can see a spectacular diversity of species in Ontario. Twenty-one of the world’s 54 gull species have been documented in the province.
Ontario’s provincial parks, particularly those located around the Great Lakes, are a natural refuge for these misunderstood shorebirds.
Our most common Ontario species, the Ring-billed Gull, has a prominent black ring encircling its yellow bill.
Franklin’s Gull is named after the famed arctic explorer, Captain John Franklin, whose expedition to the Canadian Arctic first collected and identified the species in 1823. Sir John knew gulls were cool — get it?!
Gulls do share some common characteristics.
They are long-winged and web-footed with slightly hooked bills and square or rounded tails. Ontario species range in size from the elfin Little Gull at 11 inches to the relative behemoth, the 30-inch Greater Black-backed Gull.
They are opportunistic scavengers. Gulls eat both plant and animal matter, and are known to eat carrion.
Gulls take advantage of any available food source. The mass waste of garbage dumps is a virtual gull smorgasbord. Gulls are one of the few generalist species that have thrived alongside explosive human growth.
It is illegal to harass or hurt wildlife in provincial parks. Feeding wildlife, including gulls, for our pleasure and amusement is harassment.
It prevents birds from following their natural patterns while also introducing unhealthy items into their diet.
Gulls have many virtues. They are the undisputed masters of the air. They ride updrafts like no other bird, floating effortlessly by mining the subtle differences in air pressure between the water surface and breaking waves.
Their intricate weaving and undulating is often maneuvered without a single wing-beat. Gulls have even recently been credited with altering their flight path to take advantage of small updrafts rising from rows of low-rise buildings!
From the Ontario Parks Website - Just for the Gull of It
We have begun feeding the local gulls at the parking lot in the shopping mall. I enjoy watching them swoop down, suddenly masses of them appearing where you had only seen a few just before. I like hearing them screech at each other and boss each other around.
I know we shouldn't feed them but they always seem to really appreciate the food. Not that they look scrawny. Just very enthusiastic.
What is it safe to feed a seagull? French fries don't make the list.
- Fish and seafood, no surprise there.
- Whole grains and seeds, something they might find in a farmer's field or other agricultural location.
- Insects and their children. I think most birds will happily eat bugs.
- Vegetables, but they aren't a favourite. I wonder if they prefer cooked vegetables?
- Nuts, unsalted. That's not a surprise either, the unsalted part.
This is a good list. But, other than some vegetables I'm not likely to have leftovers of anything else on the list. I'm guessing stale bread should be off the menu too.
- Lesser Black-backed Gull
- Herring Gull
- Ring-Billed Gull
- Laughing Gull
- Franklin’s Gull
- Bonaparte’s Gull
List from Birdwatching HQ - Gulls in Ontario
The list includes terns, a similar looking bird which also likes the beach coastal areas of lakes. But, it was the seagulls I wanted to know more about.