Birds of open and near-water areas of the USSR. Mosaic of the planet See what a "slaty gull" is in other dictionaries

Pacific Gull

Pacific Gull - Larus schistisagus

A large gull (wingspan up to one and a half meters) with a white head, black-gray wings and back, pink legs.

The beak is yellow with a round red spot below. The wing tip is black with white spots. Juveniles are grayish with a gray tail. Two-year-olds sometimes have black transverse stripes on their beak and tail and then differ from the black-tailed gull only in their larger size and almost black back.

Nests on rocky shores Far Eastern seas, winters in ice-free waters.

Table 27. — long-tailed skua; — short-tailed skua (303a — light form, 303b — dark form); — skua (light form); — great skua; — head of an Antarctic skua; — herring gull (309a — adult, 309b — young); — southern herring gull; - northern herring gull; - chickweed; - sea gull; 314 - slaty gull; — black-tailed gull; - burgomaster; - black-headed laughter.

Encyclopedia of Russian nature. — M.: ABF. R.L. Boehme, V.L. Dinets, V.E. Flint, A.E. Cherenkov. 1998 .

Herring gull Herring gull Herring gull - Larus argentatus see also 10.11.1. Genus of Gull - Larus Herring Gull - Larus argentatus Large (significantly more crow, wingspan about 1.3 m) gull with a white head and silver-gray back and wings. The beak is massive, yellow with a round tip

Sea gull Sea gull Sea gull - Larus marinus see also 10.11.1. Genus of Gull - Larus Seagull - Larus marinus A very large gull (wingspan about one and a half meters), similar in color to the black whale, but the back and wings are completely black with a white border along the edge of the wing. The legs are pink. Young with ocher

Black-tailed Gull Black-tailed Gull Black-tailed Gull - Larus crassirostris see also 10.11.1. Gull genus - Larus Black-tailed gull - Larus crassirostris Medium-sized (wingspan about a meter) gull, similar in color to the Pacific gull, but slightly lighter, with black stripes along the edge of the tail and butt

Southern Herring Gull Southern Herring Gull Southern Herring Gull - Larus cachinnans see also 10.11.1. Gull Genus - Larus Southern Herring Gull - Larus cachinnans Very similar to the Herring Gull, but the legs are yellow. Breeds on lakes and sea islands of southern Russia east to Altai, winters on Cherny, Az

Northern Herring Gull Northern Herring Gull Northern Herring Gull - Larus heuglini see also 10.11.1. Genus of Gull - Larus Northern Herring Gull - Larus heuglini Similar to the herring gull, but the back and wings are dark, slate gray, the legs are yellow or pink. Breeds on seas, lakes and rivers

Order of Gulls (Lari, or Lariiormes) Order of Gulls (Lari, or Lariiormes) The order of gulls is a relatively small group of birds of medium, small and less often large sizes. According to some signs, they are approaching, on the one hand, waders, and on the other, guillemots. Being cramped

Larus schistisagus- slaty-backed gull. On about. Starichkov is one of the largest colonies of this species (2–2.8 thousand pairs). There are about ten colonies of this size in the Kamchatka region. The bulk of the population is located on the upper, flattened surface of the island, sloping towards the ocean to the east, overgrown with thick grass on a thick layer of humus, as well as on the slopes of the eastern shore. Quite massive nests of dry grass (usually cereals), moss, roots, algae, feathers and other material are usually built by gulls in dense grass (among reed grass, shelomyk, hogweed, nettle, wormwood), less often openly on a surface devoid of vegetation, often under the canopy of dwarf alder. There are 1–4, usually 2–3 eggs in a clutch.

Pacific gulls appear on the island almost immediately, arriving in the spring at the beginning of April or even at the end of March. But first in small numbers. By May, their numbers increase significantly. Reproduction is extended. An adult seagull with building material in the beak were observed even in the first part of June. Clutches were found from the end of May to the end of July (already hatched). Chicks in most nests appear in late June - early July, the breeding rhythm of slaty-backed gulls is different years approximately the same.

The very first young birds (no more than 5–8% of the breeding population of slaty-backed gulls) take their wings by early August. During August, the decisive majority of the chicks fledgling. The latest ones sit in the grass until mid-September, and even until the end of this month. By this time, there are almost no adult gulls left on the island. Young gulls, having left their nests, gather around the perimeter of the island on rocks, reefs, and sand. At this time, some young birds are already actively wandering between the island and Avacha Bay, but many more chicks are hiding in the grass.

When slaty gulls begin nesting in late May and June, grass cover on the island is low and many nests are visible from the sea (from a boat). By mid-July, when most nests have hatched, the grass stand on humus-rich soil forms a thick wall 1.5–2 m high, hiding the nests and chicks. Adult birds that bring food land directly in the thick grass and then take off with difficulty (you can even catch them with your hands). Birds trample down numerous areas and paths among the grass. Externally, they are hidden under a thick tall grass canopy. But if you sit down, you can clearly see that a significant part of the surface occupied by the colony is a compacted surface of humus with nesting buildings, droppings, food remains, and the corpses of dead chicks.

It is obvious that the slaty gull, with its high numbers and large volume organic matter brought to the surface of the island is one of the key species that determines the ornithogenic factors of soil formation and the dynamics of vegetation cover in the island. Starichkov. The breeding success of the slaty-backed gull population on the island as a whole is 36–38%. Moreover, the death of individual eggs and complete clutches is relatively small: 10–15%. But the mortality rate of chicks can be unusually high.

According to calculations, about 2–2.5 thousand chicks die on the island during each breeding season. There were approximately 1,800–2,000 young slaty-backed gulls per wing. In mid-July 2005, on the same transect, we found 6 dead puffballs and the remains of one more - under the nest of a black crow. In search of food, slaty gulls fly around the island for tens of kilometers. They catch small fish, marine invertebrates and pick up food waste people on the water and on the shore. On July 4, 2006, on the way from the “gate” of Avacha Bay to the island (10 km), we counted 6 concentrations of colonial sea birds catching shrimp; Pacific gulls dominated (2.5 thousand individuals, 70%). Near the nests almost everywhere we found 1–3 whole (dried) or partially eaten three-spined sticklebacks. Obviously, this is the main food for chicks, which is brought to them by adult birds.

Fruit pits, stearin, compound fat, fish bones, wool and bones were found in the pellets collected on Starichkov Island. small mammals, pieces of candy wrappers, pieces of leather, rubber and other items that could have been collected (including by accident) in garbage dumps near human habitations. In the 23 pellets of birds of this species collected at the lighthouse: 13 (this is 56.5%) consisted entirely of small small bones sea ​​fish; in 6 pellets (26%) fish bones were mixed with remains of black shells bivalves 2.5 cm in size. On the island, slaty gulls destroy nests (clutches) and catch kittiwakes, guillemots, cormorants, old man and other birds, peck at the carcasses of dead birds, and collect sea waste.

The most famous among seabirds, gulls belong to the family of the same name in the order Charadriiformes. Thus, they are distant relatives of waders, and the closest ones in systematic relation to them are skuas, terns and cutwaters. There are about 60 species of these birds in the world.

Black-headed or common river gull (Larus ridibundus, or Chroicocephalus ridibundus).

Most seagulls are medium-sized birds. The tiniest species is called the little gull; the weight of this bird is 100 g, and the size does not exceed the size of a pigeon. The world's largest sea gull weighs 2 kg, its body length reaches 80 cm.

The appearance of all types of seagulls is the same. These are dense birds with smooth plumage, middle length wings and tail. All these features make them excellent flyers. Indeed, seagulls are able to spend a lot of time in the air and make sharp maneuvers in flight. The beak of gulls is adapted to holding slippery prey: in some species it is thin, evenly pointed, in others it is more massive with a sharp hook at the end. All species have webbed feet, indicating the ability to swim. At the same time, seagulls lack the clumsiness of ducks; on land they move with confident, wide steps, and can run if necessary.

The herring gull (Larus argentatus) is one of the most mass species these birds.

The plumage of these birds contains white and black colors in different proportions. The most common type of coloring is “light body - black (gray) wings,” often accompanied by a dark head. Monochromatic species (white, polar, gray, dark gulls) are less common. A special exception is the pink gull; its plumage has an indescribable soft pink hue, which is inevitably distorted in all photographs. The paws and beak of seagulls can be black, red, or yellow. There is no sexual dimorphism, but seasonal dimorphism is pronounced. In the spring, gulls molt and change their modest winter plumage to a brighter mating plumage. In addition, young birds are strikingly different in color from adults; their plumage is brownish-variegated.

A young great-billed gull (Larus pacificus) in juvenile plumage.

The distribution of these birds is worldwide; there is no continent or ocean where they do not live. Among the seagulls there are especially tropical species, there are those who gravitate towards temperate zone, and there are avid polar explorers. One thing is constant - all types of seagulls are necessarily associated with bodies of water. But even here, each of them has their own tastes: some clearly prefer the ocean spaces and open coasts seas, others willingly populate rivers and lakes. Seagulls can be found even in desert oases. Species that live on the coasts of the seas are usually sedentary, while those that live on the inland waters of continents make seasonal migrations.

The monochromatic coloration of the ivory gull (Pagophila eburnea) performs a camouflage function, since this species lives in the area eternal ice at the North Pole.

Seagulls are gregarious birds that live in obligate or facultative colonies. Obligate colonies number thousands of individuals nesting literally right next to each other ( bird markets). In facultative colonies, from ten to hundreds of individuals nest; in this case, the nests are located at a distance of several meters and even tens of meters from each other. Due to such pronounced sociality, gulls have a very developed signaling system. The language of each species includes several dozen different sounds, with the help of which birds communicate the presence of food, readiness for reproduction, danger, and even the sight of an enemy. In general, the voices of these birds are very loud and shrill, clearly audible at a great distance.

People have formed a romantic image of a seagull, like a snow-white bird soaring peacefully over the sea. IN real life This behavior can only be observed in the presence of easily accessible food. A flock of seagulls can also unite in the face of danger and jointly attack a predator (fox, crow, human). This is where the stock of friendliness ends. In all other cases, these birds will show themselves as daring, greedy and aggressive hunters. They can start a fight among themselves over a tasty morsel, they can take away someone else's prey and even beat someone else's chick to death.

Black-headed gulls attacked a puffin (Fratercula arctica) and robbed it of its catch.

Initially, the main prey of gulls was fish, squid and the remains of large fish. sea ​​predators. In search of this food, seagulls fly out into the open sea or ocean and circle for a long time, monitoring from above suspicious activity on the surface of the water. Their involuntary helpers are whales, dolphins and predatory fish(tuna, marlin, sharks) chasing schools of fish or krill in the depths of the sea. Small fish in an attempt to escape, she rises to the surface of the water, where seagulls greedily pounce on her.

Seagulls fearlessly snatch small fish right from the mouth of a hunting whale.

These birds can grab prey from the surface and even partially submerge in water, but they cannot dive deeply.

Thanks to special structure bones, the beak of seagulls can open disproportionately wide. This feature is an adaptation to swallowing prey from water, where it cannot be cut into pieces.

In addition, seagulls do not disdain hunting on the shore. Here they eat the carcasses of seals and fur seals, catch crabs, starfish, shellfish, steal chicks and eggs of other birds. In the steppes and tundra, seagulls readily catch insects, mice, voles, and peck wild berries.

This seagull has learned to snatch ice cream right out of the hands of absent-minded passers-by.

Currently, the food resources of many species have expanded significantly due to proximity to humans. Inhabiting the vicinity of beaches, ports and city dumps, these birds have adapted to feed on any food waste.

The breeding season for all species of gulls occurs once a year. These birds are monogamous and remain faithful to their partner throughout their lives, but if he dies, they have no problem acquiring a new one. Marriage ritual accompanied by complex language body movements: nods of the head, fluffing of the plumage on the belly, meowing cries are used. The male also gives the female a symbolic gift (small fish), which seals their union. In different climatic zones Nesting begins in April-June. Nests can be located either on a flat surface (on sand, in grass) or on narrow ledges. Seagulls nesting in the tundra and on ledges line their nests with scanty bedding of grass, dry algae, and reeds. Birds nesting on beaches often do without bedding or replace it with fragments of shells and wood chips.

Nests of common kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla) on a ledge.

There are 1-3 motley eggs in a clutch, which the female incubates for 20-30 days (the male brings her food).

Clutch of sea gull (Larus marinus).

Chicks hatch at intervals of 1-2 days. They belong to the semi-brood type, that is, they are born developed, sighted and covered with down, but unable to move independently. The chicks sit in the nest for 2-6 days, after which they can independently move around the colony. When there is a shortage of food, parents give preference to the older chick, and the younger ones often die. In case of danger, the chicks hide, fortunately, the down perfectly camouflages them against the background of sand and small pebbles. Young birds reach sexual maturity in 1-3 years, and seagulls live in the wild for up to 15-20 years ( absolute record belongs to a herring gull that lived 49 years!).

The enemies of seagulls are large predator birds(kites, falcons) and terrestrial predators(foxes, arctic foxes, bears).

Pacific gull (Larus schistisagus) with food at the nest. The spot on the bird's beak serves identification mark for chicks, with the help of which they unmistakably distinguish their mother from gulls of other species living in the neighborhood.

For many centuries, people and seagulls coexisted peacefully with each other, but due to the reduction of global fish resources in last years There has been a tendency to consider these birds harmful. Seagulls are accused of undermining fish stocks and are proposed to be destroyed. It is clear that such a position does not correspond to reality and only indicates that a person, overcome by a thirst for enrichment, is ready to eliminate any neighbors on the planet from his path. In fact, many gulls that nest in inland waters provide significant benefits because they destroy a large number of locusts and harmful rodents. But even those who fish in the sea feed only on trash fish. In an urban environment, seagulls act as orderlies, eating animal waste. Some species with narrow ranges are under threat of extinction (relict gull, pink gull, red-legged gull, Chinese gull, black-headed gull) and need careful protection.

The Galapagos gull (Creagrus furcatus) is not only a narrow endemic to the Galapagos Islands, but also has a specific lifestyle - these birds prefer to hunt at night.

see also 10.11.1. Gull Genus - Larus

Pacific Gull - Larus schistisagus

A large gull (wingspan up to one and a half meters) with a white head, black-gray wings and back, pink legs.

The beak is yellow with a round red spot below. The wing tip is black with white spots. Juveniles are grayish with a gray tail. Two-year-olds sometimes have black transverse stripes on their beak and tail and then differ from the black-tailed gull only in their larger size and almost black back.

It nests on the rocky shores of the Far Eastern seas and winters in ice-free waters.

Table 27. 302 - long-tailed skua; 303 - short-tailed skua (303a - light form, 303b - dark form); 304 - skua (light form); 305 - great skua; 306 - head of an Antarctic skua; 309 - herring gull (309a - adult, 309b - young); 310 - southern herring gull; 311 - northern herring gull; 312 - bush; 313 - sea gull; 314 - slaty-backed gull; 315 - black-tailed gull; 317 - burgomaster; 319 - black-headed gull.

"The Pacific Gull" in books

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