Gulls Just Want to Have Fun

On March 25, 2018 0 Comments - Birds, Highway 49

Ring-billed Gull

Ring-billed Gulls soared together riding the wind currents over the Horicon Marsh on Sunday afternoon. Gulls are partial migrants. Some stay in the area and some migrate to the warmer coasts in the winter.

Ring-billed Gull Watches the Surface of the Horicon Marsh

The gulls took turns hovering briefly, a few feet above the surface of the marsh, looking for fish, frogs, and insects.

Ring-billed Gull at the Horicon Marsh When they spotted a delicious morsel, they plunged to the water, snatched their tasty treat, and took off. They often dropped their dinner and scooped it back up several times before eating it.

Tastes Like Chicken

This gull snaps up a frog from the water.

Ring-billed Gull at the Horicon Marsh

The gulls were quite vocal when they weren’t eating.

Herring Gull

The Herring Gull is content to watch the action from the slowly dissipating ice crust. His pink legs and the red spot on his bill distinguish him from the Ring-billed Gull with its yellow legs and black band around the bill. It takes two to four years to develop this beautiful gray and white plumage accented with a black tail and white tips.

Herring Gull, Ring-billed Gull

Angry Birds

On March 3, 2018 0 Comments - Birds

Herring Gulls Fishing at the Horicon Marsh

Herring Gulls chip away at the icy surface of the Horicon Marsh to find frozen fish underneath. It is not a good idea to flaunt your fish filet.

Juvenile Herring Gull

This juvenile Herring Gull aggressively responds to a gull that got too close to its fishing hole.

Herring Gulls in the Battle for Fish

The birds battle for open fishing holes. If a gull gets a large piece of fish, the rest of the flock gather around to try and steal some for themselves.

Herring Gulls at the Horicon Marsh

After chaotic flapping of wings and loud squawking, a victor eats the spoil.

Canada Geese in a Display of Aggression

Meanwhile, the Canada Geese were honking, hissing, and sticking out their tongues in their own displays of aggression.

Canada Geese at the Horicon Marsh

They flare their wings and run offenders off of their turf, a muskrat house, in this case.

House Sparrow

In contrast to the aggressive displays of the gulls and geese, the pretty House Sparrow is content to flit and perch in shrubs along the Marsh.

House Sparrow at the Horicon Marsh According to the American Museum of Natural History’s Birds of North America: Eastern Region, House Sparrows are a member of the Eurasian family called weaver-finches. The House Sparrow was first introduced in Brooklyn, New York in 1850 and is now one of North American’s most common birds.