Though the Western Gull is by far not the most populous bird on the island (about 18,000 this year), they certainly have the largest presence due to their unchecked aggression and choice to nest anywhere and everywhere.
As adults get hungry, many cannibalize the chicks in neighboring nests, and some chicks don’t get fed enough and end up just dying. About 1 out of 10 survive to fledge, but this year it looks like it’ll be less. Russ, one of the biologists on the island, has a suspicion that the gulls choosing to eat their own species may be an indicator of environmental conditions in the ocean – if there’s not enough productivity out at sea, there’s a tasty snack nearby.
At first I had a hard time adjusting to the gull’s screaming, pooping, and dive-bombing, but I realized that it’s just daily life on the Farallones. It’s really their island, and they know it, so their attempt to protect the small chances of their young’s survival can be understood if not fully justified (there are a few out there… that have a really fiesty attitude)
I thought I’d dedicate a picture post to the WEGU’s, since the clothes I wear have a coating in their guano.
A nest of 3 eggs, one is pipping! See the egg tooth?
Sometimes the eggs are predated, like this gooey mess was.
This is a hatchling. It’s just finished getting itself out of its egg and is still wet from the insides. After a few hours it puffs up into a ball of cuteness. Right here, its still pretty ugly.
This is a little nest of three downy-feathered chicks! It’s not the greatest picture, I was in a rush and their mom wasn’t too happy I was loitering near her babies
This is a dead chick right outside its nest. I chose a relatively non-gruesome since I deal with enough regurgitations from this species already.
If they’re lucky enough to survive to adulthood… they’ll probably come back to the island to make more baby chicks!
Things are about to get really busy here on the island with 3 different diet watches all starting pretty much concurrently. I’ll try to keep posting regularly!
Love, Kristina