Message:

[

Previous   Next

]

By Topic:

[

Previous   Next

]

Subject:

Re: 1000+ RB gulls feeding on insects next to Potomac River

From:

Fred Pierce

Reply-To:

Maryland Birds & Birding

Date:

Sat, 11 Sep 2004 08:07:33 -0400

I observed something similar at Cape May a couple of weeks ago. There were
little winged ant-thingys taking off from the ground, being intercepted by
hordes of dragonflys. Above them were swarms of swallows, and everywhere
else were zillions of gulls. I'm not sure the flying ants were the center of
everything but it appeared that way.

Yes, this observation has been conducted and reported in my usual precise,
scientific manner. At least I didn't say "seagulls."

fdp

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Fred Pierce (DNRC)- 
Mid-Atlantic Aviation on the Web - http://www.avialantic.com
---------------------------------------------------------------------

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Maryland Birds & Birding [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
> Behalf Of Robert Anderson
> Sent: Friday, September 10, 2004 11:24 PM
> To: 
> Subject: [MDOSPREY] 1000+ RB gulls feeding on insects next to Potomac
> River
>
>
> Wondering if anyone else saw the amazing show along the Potomac
> today around
> 5:45 PM and if so if they could explain it.
>
> While driving on GW parkway from Alexandria to Memorial Bridge
> for more than
> a mile there were groups of hundreds of ring billed and some
> laughing gulls
> (easily totaling over 1000) catching insects above the trees and along the
> river.
>
> I have seen large groups of gulls scared up and scattered like this from
> dumps but never so many that were feeding at one time in the sky.
>
> What sort of insects would be available in such numbers and of enough
> substance to attract 1000 gulls? (both adults and youngsters) Are they
> coming from the trees or water?
>
> Any insights would be appreciated.
>
> PS there were a few ring bills on the DC side of the bridge but they were
> floating in the water.
> ----------------------------------------------------
> This message has been processed by Firetrust Benign.
>