Ring-Billed Gull (Larus Delawarensis) Greg Norwood

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Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) Greg Norwood

Alcona Co., MI. 6/7/2009 © Darlene Friedman (Click to view a comparison of Atlas I to II) It is nearly impossible to visit a Michigan “possible” records that appear inland since non- breeders and post-breeding dispersal could shoreline of the Great Lakes without seeing the account for many of those records. An increase Ring-billed Gull in all but the coldest months. In from 13 to 33 townships had confirmed nesting, a little over 80 years, its status has changed from although the NLP and SLP did not significantly a non-breeder to a successful breeder nesting in change. Since MBBA I, the species has shown a colonies with up to tens of thousands. This dramatic increase in abundance in all of the surely is one of the most impressive population Great Lakes, especially between the first and expansions of any species covered in both the second of the three decadal surveys (1976– MBBA I and MBBA II. The Ring-billed Gull is 1977, 1989–1990, 1997–1999) (Cuthbert et al. highly adaptable to a wide range of habitat and 2003; Scharf 1978; Scharf and Shugart 1998). food, allowing it to thrive during the enormous The significant increase in “possible” records is ecological changes that have occurred in the centered inland from Grand Traverse Bay. Great Lakes during the 20th century. The Ring- These records are especially suspect since some billed Gull breeds over much of North America, of the largest Ring-billed and Herring Gull and is widely distributed in Michigan; this colonies exist offshore in Lake Michigan at distribution is remarkably similar to the Herring Bellows Island in Northport Bay (Leelanau Gull, with which it is a common co-nester. The County), Ile Aux Galets (Emmet County), and species primarily winters along the coast of those at the Beaver Islands (Charlevoix Florida to the Mississippi River Delta, with County). It is apparent that where the species juveniles concentrating on the Gulf coast of was recorded with “possible” status in MBBA I, Florida and adults on the Atlantic coast it is now confirmed. This is especially evident (Southern 1974). around the St. Mary’s River, northern Lake

Huron, and Isle Royale. The increase in the Distribution number of inland records may be due to the The Ring-billed Gull is as widely distributed increased inland coverage with the Breeding today as during the first atlas. These atlas data Bird Survey routes. These inland sites do not indicate a substantial increase in the number of reach the magnitude of the major coastal townships in the UP where the species is colonies, which likely contribute more to the confirmed. Confirmed colonies likely better population trends observed; however, roof- reflect the real distribution of the species than

© 2011 Kalamazoo Nature Center Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) Greg Norwood nesting Ring-billed Gulls have increased since Abundance and Population Trends the last atlas and may contribute to these inland (Click to view trends from the BBS) records in some places (Dwyer et al. 1996). A The best record of the population trend for the significant inland site, the Muskegon Ring-billed Gull is obtained through the decadal Wastewater Management System (Muskegon surveys (Cuthbert et al. 2003; C. Weseloh Co.), continues to have a colony of a few unpubl. data). These data show the significant thousand pairs that was present during MBBA I. increase in the species in the Great Lakes from the first survey to the second and a modest Breeding Biology decline from the late 1980s to the late 1990s MBBA I noted the more varied diet of the Ring- (Cuthbert et al. 2003; C. Weseloh unpubl. data; billed Gull in comparison with the Herring Gull Scharf 1978; Scharf and Shugart 1998). It is as one reason for its original population most relevant to report the trends of the Great explosion in the 1960s. As the negative effects Lakes, since there is significant inter-colony of contaminants reached a peak in the 1970s, movement (Gabrey 1996). The species Great this generalist diet may have contributed to less Lakes population went from 297,158 breeding adverse reproductive effects. Chudzik et al. pairs to 721,574 between the first and second (1994) showed the varied diet in Ring-billed decadal surveys with a 9% decline during the Gulls may have been the main reason for its third. (Cuthbert et al. 2003; C. Weseloh unpubl. greater reproductive success than the Herring data). The Michigan Great Lakes reached a peak Gull. Morris et al. (2003) further suggests food during the second survey at 132,790 breeding as a more limiting factor for the Herring Gull. pairs and declined to 101,781 during the third Ludwig (1974) describes the early expansion of (Cuthbert et al. 2003). the Ring-billed Gull in the Great Lakes citing lower water levels in the 1960s, invasion of Some of the largest colonies in the state are in alewives, large clutch-size and low adult northern Lake Michigan at Snake and Round mortality contributing to its expansion. This Island in Big Bay de Noc (Delta Co.), Rocky expansion generally has continued (L. Wires Island off the Garden Peninsula (Delta Co.), and pers. comm.). Green Island (Mackinac Co.) totaling over 50,000 pairs. The colony at the Saginaw Bay In Michigan, the species nests amidst or near Confined Disposal Facility (Bay Co.) was Herring Gulls, Caspian Terns, Common Terns estimated at 36,197 nests in 2008 (F. Cuthbert and Double-crested Cormorants. Numerous unpubl. data). Inter-colony movement has likely colonies in the state number in the tens of occurred in Michigan as evidenced by changing thousands where the birds are within inches of colony size, especially in northern Lake each other. A wide variety of nesting habitats is Michigan where colonies no longer exist at used, but typically near water (Ryder 1993). South Manitou Island (Leelanau Co.) and East Further supporting the likelihood that many and West Grape Island in the Beaver Island inland records are not breeders, Baird (1976) Archipelago (Cuthbert et al. 2003; Cuthbert and found that they forage 2-31 km from the colony. Wires 2008). Great lakes water level fluctuation Artificial sites are common including the has altered the availability of some islands Saginaw Bay Confined Disposal Facility, as through the years. Although not in Michigan, well as a diversity of islands throughout the the colony on Fighting Island in the Detroit Michigan Great Lakes. River (adjacent to Wayne Co.) has recently contained 46,000 pairs (Weseloh 2006).

Conservation Needs Ludwig J.P. 1968. Dynamics of ring-billed gull Cuthbert et al. (2003) state that this species and Caspian tern populations of the Great needs no additional special protection. The Lakes. Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, Ann Ring-billed Gull has shown the largest breeding Arbor, Univ. Michigan. population increases of any colonial waterbird Ludwig, J.P. 1974. Recent changes in the ring- in the Great Lakes and is now the most billed gull population and biology in the numerous. However, monitoring of the Ring- Laurentian Great Lakes. Auk 91: 575–594. billed Gull, and other species, is critical to Morris, R.D., D.V. Weseloh and J. L. Shutt. evaluate changes in the Great Lakes ecosystem. 2003. Distribution and abundance of nesting pairs of herring gulls (Larus argentatus) on the North American Great Lakes, 1976 to 2000. Journal of Great Lakes Research 29: Literature Cited 400–426. Ryder, J.P. 1993. Ring-billed Gull. In The Birds Baird, P.A. 1976. Comparative ecology of of North America, No. 33 (A. Poole, P. California and Ring-billed Gulls (Larus Stettenheim, and F. Gill, Eds.). Philadelphia: californicus and L. delawarensis). PhD The Academy of Natural Sciences; Thesis. University of Montana, Missoula. Washington DC: The American Chudzik, J.M., K.D. Graham, and R.D. Morris. Ornithologists’ Union. 1994. Comparative breeding success and Scharf, W.C. 1978. Colonial birds nesting on diet of ring-billed and herring gulls on South man-made and natural sites in the U.S. Limestone Island, Georgian Bay. Colonial Great Lakes. Technical report D-78-10, U.S. Waterbirds 17(1): 18–27. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Cuthbert, F.J., J.E. McKearnan, L.R. Wires, and Station. Vicksburg, Mississippi. A.R. Joshi. 2003. Distribution and Scharf, W.C. and G.W. Shugart. 1998. abundance of colonial waterbirds in the US Distribution and abundance of gull, tern, Great Lakes: 1997-1999. Report to US Fish and cormorant nesting colonies of the and Wildlife Service, Ft. Snelling, MN. U.S.Great Lakes, 1989 and 1990. W. W. Cuthbert, F.J., and L. Wires. 2008. Long-term Bowerman and A. S. Roe (eds.). Publication monitoring of colonial waterbird No. 1, Gale Gleason Environmental populations in the U.S. Great Lakes: Institute, Lake Superior State University improving the scientific basis for Press, Sault Ste. Marie, MI. conservation and management year 1 and 2 Southern, W.E. 1974. Florida distribution of (2007-08) Progress Report. Dept. of ring-billed gulls from the Great Lakes Fisheries, Wildlife & Conservation Biology, region. Bird-Banding 45:341–352. University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. Nov. Weseloh, C. 2006. Ring Billed Gull. In 2008. Cadman, M.D., D.A. Sutherland, G.G. Beck, Dwyer, C.P., J.L. Belant, R.A. Dolbeer. 1996. D. Lepage, and A.R. Couturier (eds.). Atlas Distribution and abundance of roof-nesting of the Breeding Birds of Ontario, 2001- gulls in the Great Lakes region of the United 2005. Bird Studies Canada, Environment States. Ohio Journal of Science 96(1): 9–12. Canada, Ontario Field Ornithologists, Gabrey, S.W. 1996. Migration and Dispersal in Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, and Great Lakes Ring-billed and Herring Gulls. Ontario Nature. Toronto, Ontario. Journal of Field Ornithology 67(2): 327– 339.

Suggested Citation

Norwood, G. 2011. Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis). In Chartier, A.T., J.J. Baldy, and J.M. Brenneman (eds.). 2010-2011. The Second Michigan Breeding Bird Atlas. Kalamazoo Nature Center. Kalamazoo, MI. Accessed online at: .