Laughing gulls are a medium-sized gull species found along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of North America. They are a migratory bird that breeds in coastal marshes and beaches during the summer months and winters farther south along the coasts of Mexico, Central America, and northern South America.
Nesting Habits
Laughing gulls build their nests on the ground in coastal marshes, barrier islands, beaches, and dredge spoil islands. They prefer to nest in areas with short grasses, reeds, or other sparse vegetation that provides some cover and concealment for their nest and eggs. Typical nesting habitat includes:
- Salt marshes
- Brackish marshes
- Grasslands on barrier islands
- Sandy or gravelly beaches and spits
- Spoil islands created from dredging
- Coastal dredged material disposal sites
Nests are simple shallow scrapes or depressions in the ground lined with grasses, seaweed, sticks, or other debris. Laughing gulls are colonial nesters and their nesting colonies can range from just a few dozen birds up to thousands of pairs. They tend to nest in dense aggregations with nests located just 1-4 feet apart.
Egg Laying
The typical laughing gull clutch contains 2-3 eggs. The eggs are laid over a period of 2-6 days, with one egg laid per day. The eggs are light brown to olive in color with dark brown spotting. They are pointed at one end and measure approximately 60 mm long by 41 mm wide.
Incubation begins after the last egg is laid. Both male and female laughing gulls take turns incubating the eggs. Incubation lasts for about 21-25 days before the eggs hatch.
Here is a table summarizing laughing gull nesting characteristics:
Nest Location | On the ground in coastal marshes, barrier islands, beaches |
---|---|
Clutch Size | 2-3 eggs |
Egg Color | Light brown to olive with brown spotting |
Egg Size | 60 mm x 41 mm |
Incubation Period | 21-25 days |
Range and Distribution
Laughing gulls breed along the Atlantic coast of North America from Maine to Florida, and along the Gulf coast from Florida to Texas. The main breeding areas include:
- Coastal marshes in New England
- Long Island, New York
- New Jersey coast
- Coastal Virginia and the Outer Banks of North Carolina
- South Carolina coast
- Georgia coast
- Florida coasts
- Gulf coast from Florida to Texas
Within their breeding range, laughing gull colonies can be found on both private and publicly protected lands. Some of the national wildlife refuges, parks, and reserves that support nesting colonies include:
- Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge (Maine)
- Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge (Massachusetts)
- Long Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex (New York)
- Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge (New Jersey)
- Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge (Virginia)
- Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge (South Carolina)
- Blackbeard Island National Wildlife Refuge (Georgia)
- St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge (Florida)
- Aransas National Wildlife Refuge (Texas)
In addition to protected federal lands, laughing gulls nest in many state parks, beaches, islands, and wildlife management areas along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts.
Timing of Breeding
Laughing gulls arrive at their breeding grounds from late March through April. Egg laying typically occurs from mid April through early June, with peak activity in May. The timing of breeding can vary by latitude:
- Southern colonies (Florida, Gulf coast) start egg laying in late April
- Mid-Atlantic coast colonies lay eggs from early to mid May
- New England colonies typically initiate nesting in late May
Laughing gulls are single brooded, meaning they only raise one clutch of eggs per breeding season. However, if eggs are lost early in incubation, they may re-nest and lay another clutch. After eggs hatch, chicks take about 4-5 weeks to fledge and leave the nest.
By late July and August, most laughing gull chicks have fledged and adults begin migrating south to their wintering grounds. Some adults and juveniles remain along the mid-Atlantic coast through September and into October before migrating.
Threats and Conservation
Although still abundant, laughing gull populations have declined in some areas, especially in New England. Historical hunting pressure and the filling and development of coastal marshes reduced numbers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. More recently, threats include:
- Habitat loss from coastal development
- Disturbance and predation at colonies
- Sea level rise impacting low-lying nesting islands
- Human recreation impacting nesting beaches
Conservation initiatives focus on protecting important coastal marshes, islands, beaches and other habitats where laughing gulls nest. Public education and restricting human activity near nesting colonies during breeding season is also important.
Overall, laughing gulls remain a common and widespread species, but monitoring breeding populations will be important going forward to detect any concerning trends in population size or distribution.
Conclusion
In summary, laughing gulls nest in coastal habitats along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, laying 2-3 eggs in shallow nests scraped in the ground. Nesting occurs from April through early June, with the timing varying across their range. Ongoing conservation efforts to protect coastal marshes and islands will help provide undisturbed nest sites for laughing gulls into the future.