Red billed gulls, more commonly known as seagulls, aren’t exactly the most admired of birds in New Zealand, partly because of their reputation for hanging out at the dump, and stealing your chips. Commonly seen, it is easy to take them for granted, but their numbers are seriously in decline due to the usual issues of predation, food availability, and habitat loss. Take a look at my Red Billed Gull series and see how amazing they are.
On hatching, a parent bird will ‘towel down’ the chick to dry it off and keep it warm, and then remove the shell from the nest to keep it clean and to avoid unwanted attention. They are very attentive parents. Look closely at the photos and you’ll see an image of a parent bird feeding the chick krill (krill availability is influenced by climate). Their bright red legs, pristine white chests, and grey airbrushed feathers are stunning. And how cute are those chicks! Love a red billed gull next time you see one!
