As you may be tempted to point out, the 4 letter banding code for American Herring Gulls has been updated from HERG to AHGU after the recent species split into American and European Herring Gull. I know this, but HERG was honestly just more natural to type 😉.
Great piece, Kelly, that exposed the whole range of my feelings toward the Herring Gull. Your photos and video capture how they lift me up, regardless the weather. Your snippets of HERG facts taught me things I didn't know about this amazing bird. And your hilarious (sorry, you have to admit, it is funny) twisted journey through the labyrinth of gull ID reminded me that if I think too much, I risk overlooking the beauty.
Indeed, Dan. It was a wild ride of an ID pickle. I’m both sorry and delighted I pulled you into the middle of it, because that’s the first time I’ve gotten you to curse in Japanese. Totally worth it for that alone!
I loved following your process here, what a treat. I have no clue which your friend is and it feels nice to be ok to be awash in the mystery. Just being with all of those gulls was delightful! Thank you!
Scot, that is a fantastic way to approach gull ID. Acceptance that sometimes we won’t figure it out and loving them for who they are regardless of what we call them. I love it!
Thank you for this excellent article, Kelly. It's nice to read about gulls in this way. Too often under-appreciated. The ID challenges gulls present are what make them so special and fascinating.
As for that ID at the end, the head shape does also make me think Herring, but particularly with gulls I never like to have an entire ID ride on one feature of a bird. Typically I'd employ leg color for help, but as you note it's not much use in this case. The bill looks less sinister to me, which makes me lean Ring-billed. My telltale Herring signs are size and just a vague menacing sense, particularly in the heavy bill. A Ring-billed's feels dainty. This gull doesn't look dainty, but on the scale of sinister to dainty I'd say it errs toward the latter. But then your final photo makes me say Herring. Consider this commiseration more than assistance. I love Gulls Simplified, that's a great quote to end with.
Beautiful photos and paintings. Your gulls in flight, as gulls in flight tend to, made me think of E.B. White: "A mature gull in flight is simple beauty."
Thank you for the commiseration, James. This is all the more reason I need to keep written field notes when I’m out photographing. If I had written “one of the larger gulls was playing with a minnow near the pier” then I’d be sure. But now I’m left with the vague impression that maybe I remember it being one of the big guys. 🤷♀️ No matter what, I learned a lot from my error! Have you picked up the Gull Guide yet? Each species account is PACKED with details, even more than Gulls Simplified.
I’ll have to get the Gull Guide, thank you for the recommendation Kelly. If it’s on par with Gulls Simplified, that’s quite the book. Your note-taking and nature journaling are admirable. I don’t do remotely enough of either.
The American Herring Gull’s size is so helpful with ID. If I see a big gull, my knee jerk is Herring, but the Great Black-backed is a big guy—though clearly so much darker. On a birding trip to California, Californias and Westerns were even more Herring-like. Gulls are such a wellspring of plumages and ID challenges.
They sure are! We had a California Gull visit us in Chicago a couple of summers ago and trying to pick that one gull out of all of the Herring Gulls was quite the challenge. Thankfully there were birders there (with their scopes) that are much better at gull ID than me and they were immensely helpful.
I'm one of those birders who love gulls; I don't dare call it a specialty because like you and Pete Dunn I agonize over some identifications and then just accept that I'm not going to get them all. That said, I'm calling your bird a Herring Gull. The giz - size, bulkiness, head shape - says to me Herring.
Thank you for this dispatch. The Hoverparty clip is wonderful!
I have always loved gulls of all sorts. Never understood people's antipathy and cruelty to them--disgruntled recognition of a superior Survivor, I figure.
Having familiarity with Upper Midwest/Great Lakes winter lake conditions from many years of lake skating and ice sailing, as well as outdoor work, what has always boggled my brain is how they can keep those small, hollow-boned bodies from freezing solid in the cold and wind. I suppose many do, and we never see them. But the others are out there making an honest living...and often, as you observed, clearly playing contentedly.
I realize it's warmer over fluid water, Kelly, and there are temperature layers we hoomanz don't perceive that create zones of ease for them.
But still. HOW DO THEY DO THAT!?
In addition, given we had a lively freeze last night, during an otherwise mild wet winter (Puget Trough--14 inches of rain in December), this is in my brain as I write:
I think of many times in Wisconsin where, at 10 to 30 below zero F, the tiny chickadees, nuthatches, sparrows, snowtummies (juncos), and other remnant oak prairie birds came to my apartment balcony feeding/watering station, atop/in the middle of a huge berm of snow. They would have one little foot curled up inside the tummy down, and change feet constantly, standing on the snowbank or perched on the metal rail, waiting their turn.
I once watched a peregrine falcon in a stoop at 20 below. Check the wind chill factor on that at 100-200 mph.
HOW???? How is it possible for them to maintain the spark of life? I've gotten materialist/reductionist answers from various "experts" over the years...but it remains, for me, one of life's most amazing and inspiring Mysteries. Thank you for appreciating it, and documenting it in your corners of the world.
I agree that sometimes science just can encapsulate the beauty and wonder that is the natural world. There’s a really great nature journaling prompt “let it be” where instead of focused observations or puzzling out a out a phenomenon, you just enjoy the experience in whatever medium resonates with you at the time. It’s beautiful.
Thank you, Kelly! I'm still wondering how I became a "birder." Still, I know it started when I was watching Gulls at different sizes and feathering, realizing I was watching the social interactions between adults and juveniles. This was at the age of 10 while my grandmother was trying to educate me on the 300-year-old building styles in Southern Ontario. I enjoyed this essay (and your incredible artwork!) so much.
Thank you, Casey! And that’s wonderful that you were able to look to and take lessons from birds at 10, even if they weren’t the lessons your grandmother intended for you 😉
I don’t live near a large body of water (Lake Erie is closest at ninety minutes), so I really appreciate this! It brings back memories of living in Virginia Beach decades ago. Love the video of the gulls and the water spraying at the rocks! Thanks ✌️
beautiful images and descriptions! We're on the other side of Lake Michigan from you (and therefore about 10 degrees warmer than Chicago, with the Lake warming those NW winds, which is amazing to me...) and I also love watching the dynamic flight of gulls when the winds are up out at the Big Lake. Thanks for writing about your appreciation of them, I also hear a lot of folks describe them as pests and scavengers, but they're beautiful and adaptive and so graceful in the air. Stay warm these next few days...
It is amazing what a drastic influence these giant lakes can have on the weather, isn't it Doug? I'm hoping these next few days will bring some decent lake ice, as I really missed that last winter. Thank you for being a fellow gull appreciator and for your kind words.
As you may be tempted to point out, the 4 letter banding code for American Herring Gulls has been updated from HERG to AHGU after the recent species split into American and European Herring Gull. I know this, but HERG was honestly just more natural to type 😉.
I really like that video clip of the gulls hovering in the wind over the water.
That you, Neil! It was a pretty special sight and I'm glad I could hold my camera still enough for these few seconds to capture it.
Great piece, Kelly, that exposed the whole range of my feelings toward the Herring Gull. Your photos and video capture how they lift me up, regardless the weather. Your snippets of HERG facts taught me things I didn't know about this amazing bird. And your hilarious (sorry, you have to admit, it is funny) twisted journey through the labyrinth of gull ID reminded me that if I think too much, I risk overlooking the beauty.
Indeed, Dan. It was a wild ride of an ID pickle. I’m both sorry and delighted I pulled you into the middle of it, because that’s the first time I’ve gotten you to curse in Japanese. Totally worth it for that alone!
I loved following your process here, what a treat. I have no clue which your friend is and it feels nice to be ok to be awash in the mystery. Just being with all of those gulls was delightful! Thank you!
Scot, that is a fantastic way to approach gull ID. Acceptance that sometimes we won’t figure it out and loving them for who they are regardless of what we call them. I love it!
Thank you for this excellent article, Kelly. It's nice to read about gulls in this way. Too often under-appreciated. The ID challenges gulls present are what make them so special and fascinating.
As for that ID at the end, the head shape does also make me think Herring, but particularly with gulls I never like to have an entire ID ride on one feature of a bird. Typically I'd employ leg color for help, but as you note it's not much use in this case. The bill looks less sinister to me, which makes me lean Ring-billed. My telltale Herring signs are size and just a vague menacing sense, particularly in the heavy bill. A Ring-billed's feels dainty. This gull doesn't look dainty, but on the scale of sinister to dainty I'd say it errs toward the latter. But then your final photo makes me say Herring. Consider this commiseration more than assistance. I love Gulls Simplified, that's a great quote to end with.
Beautiful photos and paintings. Your gulls in flight, as gulls in flight tend to, made me think of E.B. White: "A mature gull in flight is simple beauty."
Thank you for the commiseration, James. This is all the more reason I need to keep written field notes when I’m out photographing. If I had written “one of the larger gulls was playing with a minnow near the pier” then I’d be sure. But now I’m left with the vague impression that maybe I remember it being one of the big guys. 🤷♀️ No matter what, I learned a lot from my error! Have you picked up the Gull Guide yet? Each species account is PACKED with details, even more than Gulls Simplified.
I’ll have to get the Gull Guide, thank you for the recommendation Kelly. If it’s on par with Gulls Simplified, that’s quite the book. Your note-taking and nature journaling are admirable. I don’t do remotely enough of either.
The American Herring Gull’s size is so helpful with ID. If I see a big gull, my knee jerk is Herring, but the Great Black-backed is a big guy—though clearly so much darker. On a birding trip to California, Californias and Westerns were even more Herring-like. Gulls are such a wellspring of plumages and ID challenges.
They sure are! We had a California Gull visit us in Chicago a couple of summers ago and trying to pick that one gull out of all of the Herring Gulls was quite the challenge. Thankfully there were birders there (with their scopes) that are much better at gull ID than me and they were immensely helpful.
I'm one of those birders who love gulls; I don't dare call it a specialty because like you and Pete Dunn I agonize over some identifications and then just accept that I'm not going to get them all. That said, I'm calling your bird a Herring Gull. The giz - size, bulkiness, head shape - says to me Herring.
Thank you, Karenne. I love gulls too and have so much to learn. Are you going to any Gull Frolics this winter?
No - they sound like a blast though! I'll have to plan for next year. In the meantime, I'll be getting out to the waterways in the mid-atlantic.
Have a fabulous time!
Thank you for this dispatch. The Hoverparty clip is wonderful!
I have always loved gulls of all sorts. Never understood people's antipathy and cruelty to them--disgruntled recognition of a superior Survivor, I figure.
Having familiarity with Upper Midwest/Great Lakes winter lake conditions from many years of lake skating and ice sailing, as well as outdoor work, what has always boggled my brain is how they can keep those small, hollow-boned bodies from freezing solid in the cold and wind. I suppose many do, and we never see them. But the others are out there making an honest living...and often, as you observed, clearly playing contentedly.
I realize it's warmer over fluid water, Kelly, and there are temperature layers we hoomanz don't perceive that create zones of ease for them.
But still. HOW DO THEY DO THAT!?
In addition, given we had a lively freeze last night, during an otherwise mild wet winter (Puget Trough--14 inches of rain in December), this is in my brain as I write:
https://www.weather.gov/grb/windchill
I think of many times in Wisconsin where, at 10 to 30 below zero F, the tiny chickadees, nuthatches, sparrows, snowtummies (juncos), and other remnant oak prairie birds came to my apartment balcony feeding/watering station, atop/in the middle of a huge berm of snow. They would have one little foot curled up inside the tummy down, and change feet constantly, standing on the snowbank or perched on the metal rail, waiting their turn.
I once watched a peregrine falcon in a stoop at 20 below. Check the wind chill factor on that at 100-200 mph.
HOW???? How is it possible for them to maintain the spark of life? I've gotten materialist/reductionist answers from various "experts" over the years...but it remains, for me, one of life's most amazing and inspiring Mysteries. Thank you for appreciating it, and documenting it in your corners of the world.
I agree that sometimes science just can encapsulate the beauty and wonder that is the natural world. There’s a really great nature journaling prompt “let it be” where instead of focused observations or puzzling out a out a phenomenon, you just enjoy the experience in whatever medium resonates with you at the time. It’s beautiful.
Thank you, Kelly! I'm still wondering how I became a "birder." Still, I know it started when I was watching Gulls at different sizes and feathering, realizing I was watching the social interactions between adults and juveniles. This was at the age of 10 while my grandmother was trying to educate me on the 300-year-old building styles in Southern Ontario. I enjoyed this essay (and your incredible artwork!) so much.
Thank you, Casey! And that’s wonderful that you were able to look to and take lessons from birds at 10, even if they weren’t the lessons your grandmother intended for you 😉
I don’t live near a large body of water (Lake Erie is closest at ninety minutes), so I really appreciate this! It brings back memories of living in Virginia Beach decades ago. Love the video of the gulls and the water spraying at the rocks! Thanks ✌️
I’m so glad you enjoyed it Rob. I do feel extremely fortunate to live so close to this magnificent lake and am happy to share her beauty with you!
beautiful images and descriptions! We're on the other side of Lake Michigan from you (and therefore about 10 degrees warmer than Chicago, with the Lake warming those NW winds, which is amazing to me...) and I also love watching the dynamic flight of gulls when the winds are up out at the Big Lake. Thanks for writing about your appreciation of them, I also hear a lot of folks describe them as pests and scavengers, but they're beautiful and adaptive and so graceful in the air. Stay warm these next few days...
It is amazing what a drastic influence these giant lakes can have on the weather, isn't it Doug? I'm hoping these next few days will bring some decent lake ice, as I really missed that last winter. Thank you for being a fellow gull appreciator and for your kind words.
Am I allowed to cop out and guess HERG x RBGU?
Sure, why not! 😂
Then you have my guess 😏
How’s your gull studying coming along otherwise, Nathaniel? Making any headway?
Whoa whoa…I’m starting that when I turn 50. Nine and a half months to go 😂
Ah, I thought your intent was to start before you turned fifty—my mistake! Enjoy your last few months of relatively straightforward bird ID 😂
Nine months of sweet peace
I agree completely with Pete Dunne. Acceptance is the key! 😊
I think it's the only way to move forward, Beth!