One Mean Laughing Gull
The Laughing Gull pictured below has been hanging around in Cape May and has eaten at least 4 Least Sandpipers. The picture depicts one in its bill. I never knew a Laughing Gull would eat other birds. I knew the larger gulls did that. I apologize to the more squeamish folks.
Thanks to Sam Galick, resident Higbee Beach migration counter, for the picture.
5 comments:
Geez! And the others are just standing around watching!
Wow - I knew gulls were omnivorous but for some reason I would never have included sandpipers in their diet. Squeamish or not, it's a very good picture; well worthy of any book discussing the subject of avian predation. You should contact CLO or one of the university presses to see if they are interested in buying it.
Laura,
It makes you wonder what they're thinking. It deserves a good caption like "The Far Side."
John,
I googled "laughing gull predation" and I found mostly articles on the gulls being on the opposite end. I should contact CLO. The pic belongs to another birder. Maybe he can make a buck off of it.
I've seen gulls go after ducklings before, but never a full-grown sandpiper (although, I guess they aren't much bigger than a duckling when you get down to it).
I miss gulls. Desert life does have its drawbacks.
"Dreyfuss once wrote from Devil's Island that he would see the most glorious birds. Many years later in Brittany he realized they had only been sea gulls... For me they will always be glorious birds."
--From "Harold and Maude"
You know the other pipers are just thinking, "Act casual! Maybe he won't notice us!"
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