Outdoor Ontario

Discussion => Behaviour => Topic started by: Kris Ito on February 07, 2015, 05:34:36 PM

Title: Gull Attacking Bufflehead
Post by: Kris Ito on February 07, 2015, 05:34:36 PM

I wasn't planning any birding today with the impending snowstorm, but since I was driving across the lakeshore in Toronto, I couldn't resist a quick stop to look for interesting gulls. I was watching a group of 5 Great Black-backed Gulls at Sir Casimir Gzowski Park when I noticed one of the adults with a tiny female Bufflehead. What occurred next was agonizing to watch, but I couldn't look away. He held her by the wing and tried several times to hold her underwater. He then changed his grip, holding her by the head and shaking her violently. I prayed that her neck would break and it would be over. Sadly she continued to struggle. After 3 agonizing minutes, she finally fell limp and he carried her onto the ice. I couldn't watch what would come next, and so returned to my car. I have always read that these are the world's largest gulls and known opportunists, eating fish and birds alike, but watching one in action is something I will never forget. "Nature's Way" can be so brutal. - Kris   :cry:


(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8634/16465541861_aecc117544_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/r61cWM)GBBG Attack (https://flic.kr/p/r61cWM) by Kris Ito (https://www.flickr.com/people/95264878@N02/), on Flickr

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7314/16441297076_da475c146a_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/r3RWPf)GBBG Attack continues (https://flic.kr/p/r3RWPf) by Kris Ito (https://www.flickr.com/people/95264878@N02/), on Flickr

(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8595/16281423207_1623a80682_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/qNJxTe)GBBG Attack continues (https://flic.kr/p/qNJxTe) by Kris Ito (https://www.flickr.com/people/95264878@N02/), on Flickr

Title: Re: Gull Attacking Bufflehead
Post by: Dinusaur on February 07, 2015, 07:42:36 PM

What a moment to capture.

Title: Re: Gull Attacking Bufflehead
Post by: Walter Fisher on February 07, 2015, 11:47:32 PM

Wow!  Great capture Kris, albeit sad.  These moments always stir up mixed emotions.

Walter :)

Title: Re: Gull Attacking Bufflehead
Post by: Brian Bailey on February 08, 2015, 09:50:32 AM

Wow, quite a spectacle! I've seen them go after other birds on the east coast, but not here in Toronto, so I tend to forget how aggressive they can be.  

The closest I've seen here is watching them systematically attack mergansers to steal their fish.


BB

Sent from my birdroid using Tapatalk.

Title: Re: Gull Attacking Bufflehead
Post by: candidpets on April 03, 2015, 11:39:26 PM

i have never seen a gbb gull in torontot is there a spot where they like to flock ?


herring gull i saw kill a pigeon at bramlea city center

but usuallly in this area i agree gulls dont seem that predatory

Title: Re: Gull Attacking Bufflehead
Post by: Henrique Pacheco on April 05, 2015, 09:54:26 PM

The spit and sunny sidebeach is good for GBBG. They're usually only here in the winter however.