Species of the Month

The herring gull is probably the bird that most people call the archetypal ‘seagull’. It is the second largest of the UK gulls weighing in at 690 – 1,440g, with a wingspan of 120 – 160 cm. 

In summer, the adults have light grey backs with a white tail, and their wings have black tips with white spots. The legs and webbed feet are pink. They have a pale-yellow eye with an orange eye ring and a heavy slightly curved yellow bill which has the classic red dot on the underside. In winter they have dusky streaks on their heads, and the bill is duller in colour. Both sexes look similar, but the male is larger than the female. 

 Young birds are often mottled brown with white spots and black tail feathers to start with, and it takes four years to reach adult plumage. 

The herring gull is an extremely resourceful bird and an opportunist, eating a wide range of food and famously stealing ice cream, sandwiches and chips from unsuspecting beach visitors. 

At the coast it feeds on marine vertebrates and invertebrates such as fish, crabs, molluscs, worms and mussels with shore crabs being a favourite. They can often be seen lifting hard-shelled molluscs high in the air and dropping them onto rocks to break open the shell to reveal the tasty morsel inside. 

However, declines in fish stocks, changes in discard practices and pollution have resulted in these adaptable birds looking for new feeding opportunities, hence they are now frequently seen inland scavenging on rubbish dumps and other sources of human food. They will also eat seeds, fruit, young birds, eggs, small mammals, insects and fish. 

Herring gulls may form large flocks of over 100 individuals. At night they can often be seen and heard heading back out to sea where they roost on the water, safe from predators such as foxes. Urban gulls return inland in the morning exploiting any food they can find, adapting their way of life to survive. 

While coastal gulls breed in large colonies on cliff faces, many are now breeding on roofs and buildings inland. 

Herring gulls are very loyal parents and mate for life. Both male and female build their nest on flat surfaces using soft materials such as grass and feathers, although a sign of the times, they will also use paper and plastic. 

Laying two – three smooth, pale-green eggs with brown spots. Chicks hatch after 28 – 30 days pecking at the red dot on the underside of the adult’s bill to induces food to be regurgitated. They fledge at 40 – 45 days and are fully independent after a further ten days. 

Herring gulls are fiercely protective parents and will dive-bomb anything perceived as a threat. This is often what brings them into conflict with humans and where they get their ‘bad reputation’, being mis-interpreted as deliberately attacking humans, especially if they have any food. 

Young birds often get together in big groups for a few years, foraging and learning from each other until they are old enough to breed. 

• Early behaviour studies in the 1950s by Niko Tinbergen showed that the gull chicks pecked at any long, yellow object with a red spot to get food. This innate behaviour is an excellent survival tool and why the parents have the red spot on their bill.
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• Gulls are very resourceful birds and very capable of learning, particularly when finding food is concerned. They can sometimes be seen stamping on the soft ground such as sand or mud, a technique called ‘paddling’. This is believed to mimic vibrations of rain falling on the ground, which draws worms, crustaceans and other invertebrates to the surface for a tasty meal.
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• Despite being a familiar sight, it might be surprising to know that herring gulls are a ‘red list’ species due to a 60% drop in their numbers. Reasons for the decline include entanglement in fishing gear, persecution, oil pollution and a decline in nest sites – buildings often have deterrents which leave fewer safe places for gulls to nest and breed.
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• Research has shown that herring gulls are capable of learning human routines – for example visiting waste centres only on the days and times that food waste is delivered. There was also a case where a gull was seen entering a shop where it stole a packet of crisps before running out and opening it by holding the packet with its foot and tearing it open with its bill.
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• Apparently, if you make eye contact with a herring gull when you are eating your food, it may discourage theft of your snack. 

Found throughout the UK, herring gulls often form large flocks with other gulls. Although a familiar site at the coast, particularly in the breeding season, now-a-days herring gulls can frequently be seen inland in urban areas, on rooftops and around rubbish tips, playing fields, farmland, wetlands, in fields, reservoirs and lakes especially in winter. 

There are some simple ways we can help gulls: 

· Remove any waste, litter and fishing lines from common areas where gulls can be found 

· Buy sustainable fish products from supermarkets to help maintain wild populations 

· Keep a note of a local wildlife rescue in case you find an injured or orphaned herring gull. 

· Report any illegal persecution of gulls to the RSPB Investigations directly or alternatively report it to the RSPCA 

· Be a bit more tolerant of them as they are only trying to survive, find food and protect their young. They are simply exploiting new opportunities where we have encroached on their natural habitat and way of life.