Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) Nancy Seefelt
During both Atlas periods, no Great Black- backed Gulls were reported breeding in Michigan. However, birds have been observed in Lakes Michigan, Huron and Erie during the summer months. In MBBA I, Great Black- backed Gulls were observed in the LP in Monroe, Wayne, Macomb, St. Clair, Huron and Bay Counties. In MBBA II, observations were restricted to just a few counties, including Berrien and Alpena County in the LP, and Mackinac County in the UP. Between Atlas Florida. December 2007. © Robert Epstein periods however, birds were documented
breeding in Michigan (see below). A gleaming white head and tail set off by a striking black back and wings make the Great Breeding Biology Black-backed Gull unmistakable. This largest In the Great Lakes, the Great Black-backed Gull of Great Lakes gulls also has an attitude to shows a preference for larger islands, and often match; its fearlessness has given it the nickname nests with other gulls, including Herring and “the king of gulls” by many seasoned Ring-billed Gulls (Good 1998, McKearnan et al. ornithologists (Bent 1921). As its scientific 1999, Weseloh 2007). Because there are few name suggests, this gull is often associated with breeding records, further generalizations marine systems and these habitats are its regarding reproduction are not available for this stronghold; these birds breed more commonly in species. However, when nesting pairs are marine coastal areas in northeastern United found, they show a similar breeding cycle to the States and northern Europe. They also breed gull species they often associate with at nesting locally along the Atlantic Coast as far south as colonies. North Carolina, and in the fresh water systems of the Great Lakes. This species may winter in Abundance & Population Trends many of these habitats, dependent on open water The first breeding records in Michigan were availability, or migrate to the Gulf of Mexico reported in 1990 in Mackinac County on Goose (Good 1998). Overall, since 1900, the number Island (Evers 1991) and on Little Saddlebag of Black-backed Gulls has increased in North Island (Ewins et al. 1992). These are not the America and this species has also expanded its first records of nesting Great Black-backed range (Good 1998). Gulls in the Great Lakes, however. In 1954, this species was documented to breed on the western Distribution shore of the Bruce Peninsula in Ontario The Great Black-backed Gull has never been a (Weseloh 2007). By the 1980s, multiple nests common breeder in Michigan. However, were found at a colony site in eastern Lake between the 1950s through the 1990s, this Ontario, and the numbers of breeding pairs magnificent bird was reported often as a winter increased in this portion of the lake through the migrant across the state (Chu 1994, McKearnan early 2000s (Weseloh 2007). et al. 1999). In Ontario, the Great Black-backed Gull has been sighted since the 1930s, and has Meanwhile, in Michigan, the number of been recorded year-round throughout Lakes breeding Great Black-backed Gulls increased Huron, Erie and Ontario through the present day during the 1990s. There were several nesting (Weseloh 2007).
© 2010 Kalamazoo Nature Center Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) Nancy Seefelt reports of this species in Michigan waters of Michigan has also recently experienced Type E Lake Huron, including one pair on Little Charity botulism outbreaks. Island (Arenac County) in 1991, and four pairs at this location in 1992 (McKearnan et al. 1999). Conservation Needs During the 1998 Michigan gull census, a record Throughout the last century and extending into number of Black-backed Gulls were the early 2000s, the Great Black-backed Gull documented across Michigan waters of the expanded its breeding range into the Great Great Lakes, with many suspected of breeding. Lakes. However, currently, it is retracting. In Lake Michigan, birds were recorded at Ile There are no management plans for this species; aux Galets (Emmet County), Gravelly Island however, agencies, scientists and local (Delta County), and Pismire Island (Charlevoix communities are trying to understand the County). In Lake Huron, pairs were noted on underlying reason for its apparent decline, Type Scarecrow, Gull and Grassy Islands (Alpena E botulism. Research indicates that invasive County), as well as Goose Island (Mackinac species may be increasing the occurrence and County) (McKearnan et al. 1999). A possible intensity of this naturally occurring toxin. Zebra reason for this increase in nesting Great and Quagga mussels, in combination with the Blacked-backed Gulls in Michigan was the Round Goby, have been linked to the recent mild, ice-free winter of 1997-1998 in the upper botulism outbreaks (Getchell and Bowser 2006). Great Lakes. These conditions may have Type E botulism may not be preventable, but a allowed more adult birds to overwinter in the better understanding of how to recognize the region and establish nesting sites early in the conditions that lead to outbreaks and lessen the breeding season (McKearnan et al. 1999). impacts is warranted, not only to protect the Great Black-backed Gull, but also other affected The expansion of the breeding Black-backed waterbirds, shorebirds and waterfowl across the Gull population continued across much of the Great Lakes region. Great Lakes through about 2002. However, the population is currently experiencing a decline, which is evident both in Michigan and at the Great Lakes population stronghold in Ontario. The decline in Michigan may indicate that conditions from the 1990s and early 2000s were ideal for the gulls, and that the expansion was a temporary phenomenon. However, in Ontario, where the birds have been established for a longer period of time, the decline could indicate a range contraction. During the current census period, there were no reports of Great Black- backed Gulls in the U.S. Waters of the Great Lakes (Cuthbert and Wires 2008). In Ontario, the number of pairs dropped from almost 50 breeding pairs, to just a few possible breeders (Weseloh 2007). Type E botulism is a possible explanation for this quick decline. Between 2004 and 2006, more than 200 Great Black- backed Gulls died in eastern Lake Ontario alone from this disease (Weseloh 2007). Lake
© 2010 Kalamazoo Nature Center Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) Nancy Seefelt
Literature Cited Suggested Citation Bent, A.C. 1921. Life histories of North American gulls and terns. Smithsonian Seefelt, N. 2010. Great Black-backed Gull Institution, United States National Museum (Larus marinus). In Chartier, A.T., J.J. Bulletin, # 113. Baldy, and J.M. Brenneman (eds.). 2010. Chu, P. 1994. Great Black-backed Gull. In The Second Michigan Breeding Bird Atlas. McPeek, GA, and RJ Adams (eds.). 1994. Kalamazoo Nature Center. Kalamazoo, MI. The Birds of Michigan. Indiana University Accessed online at:
© 2010 Kalamazoo Nature Center