The herring gull (Larus argentatus) is a large gull that breeds across northern North America, Europe, and Asia. Known for its gray and white plumage and raucous call, the herring gull is a familiar sight in coastal areas, harbors, and landfills. But how widespread is this gull within the United States? Let’s take a closer look at the range and population status of the herring gull in North America.
Range of the Herring Gull
The herring gull has an expansive range that stretches across much of the northern hemisphere. In North America, there are several distinct populations:
- The Atlantic population breeds along the Atlantic coast from North Carolina to Newfoundland and Labrador.
- The Midwest population nests across the Great Lakes region from Minnesota to western Pennsylvania.
- The Western population breeds along the Pacific coast from British Columbia to Washington.
- Smaller numbers nest inland including around the Great Salt Lake in Utah.
During the nonbreeding season, herring gulls disperse south and can be found along coastlines across the United States and Mexico. The range maps below from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology show the breeding (green) and year-round (blue) range of the herring gull in North America.
Population Status and Trends
The herring gull has a global population estimated at between 2.7 and 4.2 million breeding pairs. Within the United States, population estimates include:
- Atlantic population: ~177,000 pairs
- Midwest population: ~100,000 pairs
- Western population: ~28,000 pairs
- Additional inland breeders: ~5,000 pairs
So in total, there are approximately 310,000 breeding pairs of herring gulls nesting in the contiguous United States. The table below summarizes the population status and trends in the three main regions:
Population | Population Estimate | Trend |
---|---|---|
Atlantic | 177,000 pairs | Increasing |
Midwest | 100,000 pairs | Stable |
Western | 28,000 pairs | Decreasing |
As shown, the Atlantic population is increasing, the Midwest population is stable, while the smaller Western population appears to be declining.
How Do Populations Vary across the Continent?
Now let’s take a closer look at how herring gull populations are distributed across different regions and habitats in North America:
Atlantic Coast
The Atlantic population of herring gulls breeds predominantly along the coasts of the northeastern United States and Canada’s Atlantic Provinces. Major breeding sites include:
- Coastal Maine
- Massachusetts islands (e.g. Monomoy Island)
- Long Island, New York
- New Jersey coast
- Lake Ontario and the upper St. Lawrence River
- Nova Scotia coast
- Newfoundland coast
Herring gulls nest on offshore islands, sand spits, dunes, marshes, and sometimes on rooftops. They forage widely along beaches, in harbors, at landfills, and in agricultural fields.
Great Lakes
In the Great Lakes, herring gulls nest primarily along the shores of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, and Erie. Major nesting sites include:
- Apostle Islands in Lake Superior
- Beaver Island in Lake Michigan
- Door Peninsula in Lake Michigan
- Lake Huron shoreline
- Lake Erie Islands
- Presque Isle State Park in Pennsylvania
Nesting habitats include rocky cliffs, breakwalls, buildings, and dredge spoils. Herring gulls forage in nearshore waters, harbors, rivers, agricultural areas, and landfills.
West Coast
Along the West Coast, herring gulls breed in coastal Washington and southern British Columbia. Major breeding sites include:
- Protection Island and Smith Island in Washington
- Strait of Juan de Fuca
- San Juan Islands
- Gulf Islands in British Columbia
Birds nest primarily on offshore islands on cliffs, beaches, and driftwood. They forage along shorelines, bays, estuaries, and lakes.
Inland Sites
Beyond the coasts, relatively small numbers of herring gulls nest at inland lakes and rivers including:
- Great Salt Lake in Utah
- Lake Winnipeg in Manitoba
- Reservoirs in southern Alberta
Mostly they nest on islands in freshwater habitats. Their foraging areas include lake shores, wetlands, rivers, and agricultural fields.
Habitat Preferences and Behavior
Understanding the habitat preferences and behavior of herring gulls provides insights into their distribution across North America.
Nesting Habitats
During the breeding season, herring gulls seek out undisturbed island sites or wetland areas near ample food sources. Typical nesting habitats include:
- Offshore and coastal islands
- Spits, dunes, and barrier beaches
- Marshy areas and deltas
- Rocky cliffs and outcrops
- Gravel rooftops (in urban areas)
- Dredge spoils
Access to water is essential as gulls rely heavily on marine foods. Coastal sites with protective cover from vegetation or driftwood are preferred.
Foraging Habits
Herring gulls are opportunistic feeders that exploit a wide variety of food sources including:
- Marine invertebrates – crabs, mussels, starfish
- Fish – caught or scavenged
- Garbage at landfills
- Earthworms and insects in fields
- Bird eggs and chicks
- Human handouts in urban areas
Their foraging range depends on the breeding site but can extend up to 20 miles inland. Access to productive marine or freshwater feeding areas is key.
Adaptability
Herring gulls exhibit great adaptability to utilize both wild and human food sources:
- Forage naturally at beaches, tidal areas, lakes
- Scavenge fish and invertebrates
- Follow fishing boats for discards
- Feed at landfills and sewage outlets
- Feed in agricultural fields
- Take handouts in urban areas
This adaptability allows them to thrive across a wide range of habitats. However, it also brings them into conflict with humans.
Influence of Human Activities
Human activities have shaped the distribution and abundance of herring gulls across North America:
Spread Along Coasts
- Breeding populations expanded due to protections from persecution.
- Foraging at fisheries, landfills increased food availability.
- Nesting on artificial sites like rooftops.
Colonization of the Interior
- New breeding sites at reservoirs and lakes with island nesting sites.
- Abundant food from agriculture, landfills.
- Dispersal along major river systems.
Impacts on Gull Populations
- Culling programs, egg-oiling reduce populations in problem areas.
- Bans on landfill feeding in some regions.
- Habitat loss along developed coastlines.
Overall, human activities have facilitated the spread of herring gulls but may now be limiting populations in some areas.
Conservation Status and Threats
Despite expanding populations in the last century, herring gulls still face a number of conservation threats:
Declining Coastal Populations
Some coastal breeding populations have decreased, including:
- Western population declined 50% from 1980s to 2010.
- Declines along developed New Jersey coastline.
- Reduced reproductive success suspected in Great Lakes.
Threats include disturbance, habitat loss, pollution, and competition with other gull species.
Management Challenges
Large urban populations lead to conflicts and control programs:
- Persecuted for nesting on rooftops.
- Culled and nests destroyed when a nuisance.
- May impact other waterbird populations.
Balancing conservation with control in these areas is an ongoing challenge.
Sensitivity to Disturbance
- Prone to disturbance from human recreation on breeding islands.
- Sensitive to disturbance which can reduce reproductive success.
- Need protected nesting sanctuaries.
Minimizing disturbance at key breeding colonies is important for sustaining populations.
Conclusion
In conclusion, herring gulls occur across most of the northern United States and southern Canada, centered along the Atlantic, Great Lakes, and Pacific coasts. Their adaptability allows them to thrive among humans, creating conservation challenges. While some populations are decreasing, others remain abundant or are increasing. Protecting key breeding habitats while managing nuisance issues will be important for the future of this iconic coastal species.