The Pacific Gull (Larus pacificus) is a very large gull, with a mass of of just over 1kg and and a wing span reaching 1.5 m. For comparison, the Pacific Gull is a little smaller than the Great black-backed gull (Larus marinus), but it does seem to have a much larger beak for its size.
All in all they are am impressive bird.
This individual was loafing about a picnic area at Tidal River at Wilson's Promontory National Park. As I was watching and photographing this bird I could see it was banded / ringed. With a bit of help from the photographs I was able to read the ring details and send them off to the relevant authorities.
It turns out this bird was at least five years old when it was banded - which means it was banded as an adult. It was banded 11 years, 11 months and 15 days before I saw it, which makes it around 17 years old! That's older than my son!
Possibly not that strangely it was banded at Tidal River at Wilson's Promontory National Park - which means that the recorded movement for this recovery over almost a 12 year period, is zero! I wonder where it really has been. I also suspect that this is not the first time this bird has been recorded.
All in all they are am impressive bird.
This individual was loafing about a picnic area at Tidal River at Wilson's Promontory National Park. As I was watching and photographing this bird I could see it was banded / ringed. With a bit of help from the photographs I was able to read the ring details and send them off to the relevant authorities.
It turns out this bird was at least five years old when it was banded - which means it was banded as an adult. It was banded 11 years, 11 months and 15 days before I saw it, which makes it around 17 years old! That's older than my son!
Possibly not that strangely it was banded at Tidal River at Wilson's Promontory National Park - which means that the recorded movement for this recovery over almost a 12 year period, is zero! I wonder where it really has been. I also suspect that this is not the first time this bird has been recorded.
As ever, you can join in with WBW by clicking on the link below - and also as ever, please feel free to share the love for WBW with other bloggers! Cheers. SM
That is a very imposing beak! I imagine that it is a very aggressive species, like the Black-backed Gull. Will you be able to find out about the other places this bird has been seen? I was able to do that with a couple of bands I reported. Great series of photos!
ReplyDeleteSure looks like that gull has lipstick on!
ReplyDeleteHari OM
ReplyDeleteI have a fondness for gulls of all sizes; it is wonderful to have at least this much history to provide a little more character! YAM xx
Wow, that is a really old bird I would think for the wild, it has obviously done something right. It looks like it has more than one ring though. Great that you managed to track down a bit of history. I am sure the person who originally put the ring on was delighted with the info. Great photos. Cheers Diane
ReplyDeleteIt is an impressive looking bird indeed, Stewart. It is great that you were able to read the band and submit the information to the appropriate authorities, thereby determining the age of the bird. Bravo!
ReplyDeleteWhat handsome birds! Love the red tipped beak!
ReplyDeleteGreat photos Stewart.
ReplyDelete...with a touch of red lipstick. ;)
ReplyDeleteNice portraits, and how interesting that it's that old!
ReplyDeleteIt is a big one! You did well to read that band!
ReplyDeleteWow..would never have thought that they lived that long..Great series of pictures..Love the bill..looks like lipstick!!!
ReplyDeleteI had no idea wild birds could live that long
ReplyDeleteI love that gull. It looks like its wearing lipstick!
ReplyDeleteHi Stewart. And I am the person who banded this bird - on 23 July 2007. Yes, at the time of banding, it was an adult bird, therefore aged 5+ years. The bird was banded with the standard Australian Bird and Bat Banding Scheme stainless steel band on its right leg and a readable aluminium band on the left leg. At the time of banding, I believed it to be a male. For more information on Pacific Gulls, check out my Facebook page "Pacific Gulls". Bruce Robertson.
ReplyDelete