Seagulls often spark curiosity about their activities during colder months. Their winter behaviors vary, encompassing migration and specialized survival tactics.
Understanding Seagull Migration
The term “seagull” encompasses many gull species, and their winter habits differ significantly. Some undertake long-distance migrations, while others remain in their breeding grounds or move short distances inland. Migration extent depends on the specific species and winter conditions.
Many gulls inhabiting northerly latitudes are more likely to migrate, sometimes traveling thousands of miles to warmer climates in the south. For instance, Franklin’s Gull migrates from northern Canada all the way to South America, a journey spanning thousands of miles. Other species, like some Herring Gulls, may only move shorter distances, perhaps just relocating inland from coastal areas. Migration serves as a strategy for gulls to access more abundant food sources and avoid the harshest winter weather, though not all individuals within a migratory species will necessarily migrate, especially if they are young, old, or unhealthy.
Adapting to Winter Conditions
Gulls that do not migrate rely on physiological and behavioral adaptations to survive colder temperatures and scarcer resources. Their dense plumage provides excellent insulation, trapping warm air close to their bodies. Gulls enhance this by fluffing feathers, increasing trapped air and minimizing heat loss.
Their unfeathered feet can tolerate temperatures close to freezing. This is possible due to a countercurrent heat exchange system where arteries carrying warm blood to the feet run alongside veins returning cool blood to the body. This arrangement transfers heat from the warm arterial blood to the cool venous blood, minimizing heat loss from the feet and warming cooled blood before it returns to the body’s core. Behaviorally, gulls conserve energy by seeking shelter from winds and huddling in groups to share body heat. They also tuck their beaks and legs into their feathers to reduce heat loss.
Winter Food Sources and Behavior
In winter, seagulls adjust feeding habits as natural food sources like fish and marine invertebrates become less accessible. Many species, especially those in urban or inland areas, scavenge human food waste. Landfills, fishing ports, and urban areas become important feeding grounds for discarded food.
Gulls are opportunistic omnivores, consuming insects, small mammals, carrion, and other birds. Their adaptability allows them to exploit available food and become bolder in approaching human sources. In winter, gulls often form larger flocks in areas with reliable food or safe roosting sites like open water or ice. This flocking provides safety in numbers and aids in locating food.