 |
Gulls and Terns of Lake Huron |
|
|
Gulls and Terns of Lake Huron |
|
| Anywhere one goes along the Huron shores, the gulls wheel and chatter, dive and soar. They are very abundant nearly everywhere, being present from ice-out in spring to winter. If the lake remains open, many will overwinter here. The terns are also very common summer residents but not as numerous as the gulls. The black tern has been making a steady comeback from low numbers of 30 years ago. It is normally seen in a marsh environment. | Six species of gulls and four of terns frequent the coastal zone of Lake Huron. Some are rarely seen and a few others are only seen in the winter. All depend on minnows, small fish, carrion, garbage and hand outs for food. They usually breed on small rocky islands, which Lake Huron has in abundance. The group is easy to distinguish by the smooth, pumping wing beats, which are a bit faster on the downward stroke, often followed by a glide. |
| Terns resemble gulls but have black caps and forked tails. They are more slender too. The Caspian Tern, shown here is a large tern with a red, stout bill and the black does not go down the back of the neck. It is common to Lake Huron in spring, breeds in some areas, and is seen irregularly in summer through winter. The Common Tern, below, is smaller and the black cap extends down the nape. The bill is also more orange and tail more forked. | 
|
|
A Caspian with chick, right photo, enjoy the sunshine of a northern island. |  |
 |
 |
| The common tern eggs above left are seen in their natural setting, and compared to other eggs above. From left to right, Herring Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Caspian Tern and Common Tern. |
 |
The Black Tern is a very beautiful bird with a deeply forked tail and darting, sweeping flight over marsh pond and lily pads. It became rare several decades ago, but is now making a comeback. Winter plumage is quite distinct, being mostly white underneath. | 
|
 |
The Black Tern eggs and young can be found tucked into the cattails and marsh reeds near the waters edge. They will be very good flyers within a few weeks of this age. |  |
|
|
| The four shots above are all Ring-billed gulls at different ages. The most common gull on the Lake. | Note the distinctive band across the adult's bill that give it its name. |
 |
Herring gulls do not have bands around their beaks. They are larger with backs more greyish and have pinkish legs. More common in winter around the Lake, but can be seen anytime, anywhere. |
| Other gulls one might see are the Blacked Back, a huge gull usually common in winter, and Bonaparte's gull. The Glaucous and Little Gull also make spring appearances once in a while. Foster's tern can occasionally be seen during the spring migration. All other gulls and terns are incidentals to the area. |
Credits and Notes:
|
|
|||
|
