The Herring Gull

Abstract

Michigan has a diversity of offshore islands, and it is here where the fascinating breeding displays of Herring Gulls give way to established breeding colonies inextricably linked to the Great Lakes food web. Significant breeding colonies are patchily distributed along the Great Lakes at suitable island habitats characterized by open, barren, rocky substrate, short vegetation and sometimes near trees along the shoreline. Often these larger colonies of Herring Gulls support co-nesting Ring-Billed Gulls, terns and Double-crested Cormorants. Herring Gulls are found throughout the breeding season at many inland sites; these could represent small colonies at large lakes, sewage lagoons, and artificial impoundments. Great Lakes Herring Gulls spend the winter along Lakes Erie, Michigan and Ontario, with many sub-adults descending to the Gulf Coast (Moore 1976, Gabrey 1996).