The herring gull (Larus argentatus) is a large gull species that breeds across northern latitudes in North America, Europe, and Asia. In North America, herring gulls can be found along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, the Great Lakes, and inland across parts of Canada and the northern United States. Herring gulls are migratory birds that spend the winter farther south along coastlines and inland. Given their widespread range across northern North America, an important question is whether herring gulls can be found in the state of Michigan.
Herring Gull Range and Habitat
The herring gull has an extensive geographic range across the northern hemisphere. In North America, it breeds across Alaska, Canada, Greenland, and the northeastern and midwestern United States. Its breeding range extends as far south as North Carolina on the East Coast and Utah in the interior West. During the winter, herring gulls migrate south along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, the Great Lakes, and inland rivers where open water persists.
Within Michigan, herring gulls are confirmed as breeders in the Upper Peninsula and as migrants throughout the state. Their preferred nesting habitat consists of coastal islands and shorelines along the Great Lakes as well as inland lakes and rivers. Outside of the breeding season, herring gulls frequent coastal areas, lakes, rivers, agricultural fields, landfills, and urban centers across Michigan while migrating or overwintering.
Evidence of Breeding in Michigan
Several sources provide evidence that herring gulls breed in parts of Michigan, mainly centralized in the Upper Peninsula along the shores of Lake Superior. A few specific examples include:
- Isle Royale National Park – Herring gulls nest on islands within the park boundaries in Lake Superior.
- Seney National Wildlife Refuge – Herring gulls nest in several of the refuge’s wetlands and along the Lake Superior shoreline.
- Whitefish Point Bird Observatory – Volunteers document dozens of herring gull nests annually along the Lake Superior shoreline by the observatory.
- Tahquamenon Falls State Park – Herring gulls are observed nesting on islands in Whitefish Bay off the park’s shoreline.
In addition to National Park Service and Michigan DNR reports, citizen science databases like eBird have numerous checklists reporting breeding evidence (e.g. active nests, chicks, territorial adults) for herring gulls in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Such evidence definitively confirms that herring gulls breed in parts of Michigan.
Herring Gulls as Migrants and Winter Residents
Beyond the breeding grounds in the Upper Peninsula, herring gulls can be found across Michigan during migration and winter months. As the breeding season ends in mid-summer, herring gulls begin migrating south from more northern breeding sites, arriving in Michigan from late summer through fall.
Both eBird records and Christmas Bird Count data show herring gulls increase substantially across Michigan in winter, indicating migration from farther north. They frequent the Great Lakes shorelines, inland lakes and rivers, agricultural fields, landfills, fishing ports, and urban centers during these months. Islands on the Detroit River, for example, host thousands of migrant and wintering herring gulls each year.
While some herring gulls continue farther south in winter, many also overwinter in Michigan where open water and food sources persist. They remain widespread through winter and early spring until departing for northern breeding grounds again in late spring.
Changes in Michigan’s Breeding Population
Data suggests the size of Michigan’s breeding herring gull population has declined over the past few decades. Coastal colony surveys by wildlife agencies have documented decreased numbers of nesting pairs since the 1970s and 80s. For example, annual nest counts on islands in Whitefish Bay along Michigan’s Upper Peninsula have dropped from over 4,000 in the late 1970s to around 1,000 by the 2010s.
The reasons for declining breeding herring gulls in Michigan are not fully understood but likely involve factors on their breeding grounds, migratory routes, and wintering areas. Expanding populations of cormorants may displace gulls in some traditional colony sites. Declines in food sources, like sanitary landfills, may reduce overwinter survival and migratory success. Continued monitoring and research are needed to better understand causes of breeding population changes in Michigan.
Conclusion
In conclusion, evidence confirms that the herring gull breeds in Michigan, mainly centralized in the Upper Peninsula along Lake Superior. Nesting colonies exist on coastal islands and shorelines but have declined in recent decades for reasons not fully known. Herring gulls also migrate across the entire state and overwinter in substantial numbers on the Great Lakes, inland lakes and rivers, agricultural areas, landfills, and urban centers. While no longer as abundant as in the past, the herring gull remains a prominent and iconic gull species found in Michigan throughout the year.
Month | Herring Gull Status |
---|---|
January-February | Present across Michigan, wintering and migrating |
March-April | Migration peaks, wintering flocks depart |
May-July | Breeding in Upper Peninsula, continued migration |
August-October | Young of year appear, fall migration begins |
November-December | Migrant and wintering numbers increase |
Key Points
- Herring gulls breed in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula along Lake Superior
- They migrate across the entire state in spring and fall
- Many overwinter on the Great Lakes and at inland sites
- Breeding populations in Michigan have declined since the 1970s and 80s