HERRING GULL
WR
Herring gulls are abundant along the Atlantic coast during the entire year but most of them in the Historic Triangle area are seen during the winter months. They could rightly be called the vultures of the sea because no morsel of refuse, offal, garbage or rank fish escapes their search for food. They also descend in huge flocks on open fields where many insects are consumed. Between 1848 and 1850, gulls visited the inland state of Utah and destroyed great numbers of insects that were devouring the settlers' crops. It is quite probable that these were herring gulls. In any event, the Mormon people were so grateful that they caused a bronze monument to be erected to honor the birds.
The herring gull, which is two feet long, in summer is adorned in a snow white cloak topped by a blue-gray mantle. The bill is lemon yellow with a red spot at the angle. The feet are flesh-colored shading to brown. Winter plumage is similar to that of the summer with only the head and neck being slightly streaked.
This handsome gull often picks up a clam and flies over hard-packed sand or concrete roads where it is dropped to break the shell so the bird can get to the tidbit inside.
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