Dinner Talk

So, Fred and I were having dinner tonight, and we were watching the gulls gathering on the lake. Another autumn scene, I guess. Fred asked, where do you suppose seagulls sleep?

Following is probably more than you will ever need to know about gulls, but it was sort of interesting, and also...more calming than political talk! You may even have the answer to a Trivial Pursuit question here.

Can seagulls drink salt water?

• Yes, seagulls can indeed drink both fresh and salt water. Most animals are unable to do this, but seagulls have a special pair of glands right above their eyes, specifically designed to flush the salt from their systems through openings in the bill. That is why you'll see seagulls near large bodies of water such as the Great Salk Lake where fresh water may be hard to find.

What is the average lifespan of a seagull?

• Seagulls live anywhere between 5 to 15 years depending on their environment and predators. The average is probably closer to 7 to 10 years. Some individual gulls have been known to live over 25 years.

How long does it take a seagull egg to hatch?

• Seagull eggs are laid and nested two to three at a time, and it takes about 26 days from laying to hatching. It really depends on the gull species. But for herring gulls, the above guideline is fairly accurate.

Do seagulls attack people?

• There have been reports of seagulls attacking people. Usually, this is a lone gull and not a group of gulls. A single bird has been known to attack a particular individual over the course of an extended period of time, so perhaps they also hold grudges! Generally, I do not believe that gulls are prone to attacking people, as the reports I have heard have been few and far between. However, any injured bird will attack anyone, so be careful when handling them!

What do seagulls eat?

• Seagulls will eat just about anything, from fish to small rodents. You can feed them french fries and pieces of bread, and they know how to break open clams and other shellfish to get to the good parts.

How come I never see baby gulls?

• Seagulls are protective of their young, and before six months of age or so, they continue to nest as their parents bring back food, regurgitated for their pleasure. After reaching juvenile age, you'll see these young gulls flying with their adult counterparts. They look similar but are slightly smaller, with a more mottled coloring.

Where do seagulls sleep and/or live?

• Seagulls usually live far from predators such as humans. You can find them on offshore and otherwise uninhabited islands. You can also find them in abandoned barns and other large buildings, dumping grounds, sea cliffs, and other remote areas. Gulls are known to sometimes live many miles away from where you see them during the day.

Do seagulls migrate?

• Some gulls do migrate, especially ones in the northern parts of the world, such as Alaska. Like other migratory birds, they go south during the winter to where the pickins' are better. The migratory patterns vary widely depending on where they reside in the summer, but they can travel thousands of miles to find better food sources.