Gulls frequently move inland when coastal conditions deteriorate, a phenomenon often observed before or during periods of bad weather. This temporary migration is a survival strategy designed to minimize energy expenditure and maximize safety and access to food sources. Gulls are highly adaptable birds, and their appearance far from the sea serves as a reliable indicator that severe weather is approaching the coast.
The Primary Motivation: Avoiding Rough Seas
The immediate danger of remaining at sea during a storm is the primary driver for gulls to seek shelter inland. High winds and heavy surf significantly increase the energetic cost of flight and make essential activities like foraging and resting nearly impossible. Maintaining position against strong, turbulent winds quickly depletes the energy reserves needed for survival.
The ocean environment becomes hostile as the weather worsens, offering no stable surfaces for the birds to land and rest. Constant wave action and saltwater spray compromise a gull’s plumage, damaging the feathers that provide insulation and waterproofing. If their feathers are no longer fully functional, the birds risk becoming waterlogged and hypothermic. Moving inland to find calmer air and stable ground represents an effective energy-saving measure and a search for safety.
Inland Destinations and Resource Availability
Once away from the turbulent coast, gulls seek inland areas that offer both shelter and readily available food resources. These destinations are often large, open spaces with accessible water, allowing gulls to maintain their usual social and foraging behaviors. Large freshwater bodies, such as reservoirs, lakes, and retention ponds, provide safe, non-turbulent surfaces for resting and bathing.
Agricultural fields, especially those recently plowed or saturated by rain, become opportunistic feeding grounds where gulls scavenge on earthworms and insects brought to the surface. Gulls are highly opportunistic scavengers drawn to human-centric areas that provide easy meals. These locations, such as landfills, sewage outflows, and large parking lots, offer a predictable, low-effort food source unavailable during rough coastal conditions.
How Weather Systems Drive Movement
The movement of gulls inland is often preemptive, driven by their ability to sense the subtle atmospheric shifts that precede a storm. Gulls possess a remarkable sensitivity to barometric pressure changes, acting much like a natural barometer. A rapid drop in barometric pressure, characteristic of an approaching low-pressure system, signals the imminent arrival of high winds and precipitation.
This biological sensing mechanism alerts the birds to move before the weather becomes truly severe, improving their chances of survival. Low-pressure systems also bring strong winds, which gulls utilize to travel inland with reduced energetic output. They expertly use orographic lift—air currents deflected upward by landscape features—to glide and conserve energy. This combination of physical sensing and behavioral adaptation allows gulls to efficiently escape danger and find refuge.